Characteristics of Epstein-Barr virus activation of human B lymphocytes.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) will infect at least every 3rd cell if exposed in vitro to an extensively purified B cell population from human peripheral blood. About 10% of such infected cells will be driven into Ig synthesis and secretion, as judged by the indirect protein A plaque assay. The appearance of EB nuclear antigen, de novo DNA synthesis and Ig secretion are linked phenomena accompanying infection, as judged by viral dilution experiments which yield kinetics of a 1-hit order. Induction of Ig secretion in B cells by EBV requires de novo synthesis of DNA and nontransforming EBV (P3HR1) will not induce Ig secretion and will also specifically block such induction from subsequently added EBV. The termination of Ig induction by EBV in short-term cultures appears to be T cell dependent.