Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus I and/or Epstein-Barr virus-infected B-cell lines spontaneously produce acid-labile alpha-interferon.
B-cell lines were established as spontaneous outgrowths of cell cultures from patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Three such lines were shown to have integrated human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus 1 (HTLV-I) proviral sequences as well as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Supernatant fluids from these cultured cells were assayed for interferon (IFN) production. Acid-stable alpha-IFN was found to be produced by one cell line (CF), and acid-labile alpha-IFN by the other two (HS, MJB). In contrast, HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines did not produce IFN. Some EBV-infected B-cell lines produce acid-labile alpha-IFN, while others do not. Since alpha-IFN, both acid stable and acid labile, is found in sera from patients with the polyclonal activation of B cells as a constitutive part of the disease, the above observations suggest a possible role of polyclonal B-cell activation in alpha-IFN production in these diseases.
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D007369:Interferon Inducers; D007370:Interferon Type I