BLAST-2 [EBVCS], an early cell surface marker of human B cell activation, is superinduced by Epstein Barr virus.
Activation of human B cells by pokeweed mitogen (PWM), protein A, anti-IgM, or EBV infection results in the expression of a new surface antigen, termed BLAST-2 [EBVCS]. This marker appears before the cells undergo blast transformation as assessed by the initiation of DNA synthesis and expression of the BLAST-1 antigen. Thus, the BLAST-2 [EBVCS] antigen is expressed on both activated and lymphoblastoid cells. The antigen is, in addition, restricted to B cells, as it is not found on cells of T or myeloid lineage derived from peripheral blood, cell lines, or neoplastic cells. However, it is readily detected on chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells of B cell origin and in the germinal centers of tonsils and lymph nodes. Like the BLAST-1 antigen, BLAST-2 [EBVCS] is expressed at a high level only on EBV-transformed B lymphoblasts and has a m.w. close to 45,000. Immunoprecipitation experiments show, however, that the two antigens are expressed on distinct populations of molecules.
Thorley-Lawson
D A
DA
Nadler
L M
LM
Bhan
A K
AK
Schooley
R T
RT
D000818:Animals; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology
D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D004247:DNA