Epstein-Barr virus susceptibility of B cells correlates to the presence of complement receptors but not surface immunoglobulins.
Nuclear antigen (EBNA) inducibility by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was assessed in relation to the presence of complement (C3) receptors and surface immunoglobulins (SIg) on leukemic lymphocytes. When erythrocyte-antibody-complement complex(EAC)-positive, SIg-negative B cells were exposed to EBV, EBNA synthesis occurred with a high frequency. In contrast, no significant EBNA induction was evident in SIg-positive, EAC-negative B cells. Cells possessing both markers were EBV-infectable, in proportion to the frequency of EAC-rosette formation. These data seem to indicate that EBV susceptibility of human B cells is closely related to the presence of C3 receptors but not SIg. Leukemic T cells and myelogenous leukemia cells were not EBV-susceptible, although some cells were significantly positive for C3 receptors.
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000382:microbiology; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D011951:Receptors, Complement