Self-reactive B lymphocytes detected in young adults, children and newborns after in vitro infection with Epstein-Barr virus.
B-lymphocytes from healthy children and young adults who were seronegative for autoantibodies and B lymphocytes from umbilical cord blood of newborns were induced to secrete a variety of autoantibodies upon infection with Epstein-Barr virus. Such autoantibody-secreting clones were obtained from different lymphoid tissues and occurred at frequencies of 1 in 10(6)-10(7) mononuclear cells. The autoantibodies were exclusively of the IgM class. They recognized normal cellular components, such as cytoplasmic, nuclear and cytoskeletal antigens. The fact that self-reactive clones were not efficiently eliminated during ontogeny suggests that suppressor mechanisms might be responsible for normal self tolerance.
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001323:Autoantibodies