Epstein-Barr virus susceptibility of normal human B lymphocyte populations.
Human blood and tonsil B lymphocytes were fractionated on density gradients and tested for virus binding and penetration into the cells. Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) transformation was detected by immunofluorescence staining for EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA). EBV bound to and penetrated all B cell populations, but only the high density populations were transformed. Activated B lymphocytes were found in the low density fractions and these cells were resistant to EBV infection. Infected and noninfected B lymphocytes were density-analyzed during in vitro culture. A spontaneous, not virus-induced, density decrease was found to precede the production of EBNA. Cells remaining at high density never expressed EBNA. The results suggest that EBV can transform only small resting B lymphocytes and that a virus-independent activation of the infected cells induces the EBNA production and transformation.
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000032:analysis; D012397:Rosette Formation
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D011991:Receptors, Virus