Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNAs (EBERs) do not modulate interferon effects in infected lymphocytes.
The recent derivation of otherwise isogenic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) recombinants carrying or lacking the EBV small RNA (EBER) genes enabled us to test whether EBERs are similar to adenovirus VA RNAs in modulating interferon (IFN) effects on virus infection. EBER-positive and -negative EBV recombinants did not differ in their sensitivity to alpha interferon (IFN-alpha)- or IFN-gamma-mediated inhibition of lymphocyte growth transformation. In addition, EBERs did not decrease the inhibitory effects of IFN on vesicular stomatitis virus replication in EBV-transformed lymphocytes. EBER deletion also did not render EBV-transformed B lymphocytes susceptible to an IFN effect on cell proliferation or EBV replication.
Swaminathan
S
S
Department of Medicine, Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Huneycutt
B S
BS
Reiss
C S
CS
Kieff
E
E
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D007370:Interferon Type I; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma