Production of Antigens Associated With Epstein-Barr Virus in Experimentally Infected Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines2

Abstract

Three lymphoblastoid cell lines responded in different ways to experimental infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The RPMI-6410 cell line yielded early antigen (EA)-producing cells but no membrane antigen (MA) or viral capsid antigen (VCA)-positive cells. All 3 groups of antigens were demonstrated in infected Raji and SKL-1 cultures. The SKL-1 cell line appeared to be the most permissive with respect to EBV infection, yielding the highest percentages of VCA- and MA-positive cells. In both infected SKL-1 and Raji cultures, EA synthesis became detectable within 6–8 hours after infection, whereas MA and VCA production were not evident until about 4 hours later. Neutralizing antibodies were removed from a high-titered serum by absorption with viable MA-positive but not MA-negative lymphoblastoid cells—further evidence that MA represents viral envelope components inserted in the cell membrane.