title: Establishment of retrovirus-, Epstein-Barr virus-positive B-lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from individuals at risk for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
abstract: Peripheral blood lymphocytes from male individuals at risk for AIDS were cultured in the presence of interleukin-2. Approximately 90% of cultures originating from pre-AIDS and AIDS patients were retrovirus-positive as detected by the reverse transcriptase (RT) assay and confirmed by electron microscopy. Prolonged incubation of the retrovirus-positive cells resulted in the establishment of several interleukin-2-independent B-lymphoblastoid cell lines. These cells were positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific antigens and contained EBV particles. When irradiated cells from the new lines were cocultivated with an RT-negative T-cell line CEM, an efficient transmission of retrovirus was detected. The supernatants from cocultivated cells had 5-10 fold higher levels of RT activity as compared with the supernatant from the cell line alone. Type-C retroviral particles and budding structures similar to those of human T cell leukemia virus type III (HTLV-III) and lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) were found by electron microscopy. HTLV-III/LAV-specific polypeptides were detected by immunoprecipitation with sera from lymphadenopathy and AIDS patients, but not with sera from healthy individuals. Our data suggest that EBV-infected B lymphocytes from individuals at risk for AIDS may serve as a biological reservoir for the AIDS-associated retrovirus.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D012306:Risk; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase