title: Prevention of Epstein-Barr virus-induced B-cell outgrowth by interferon alpha.
abstract: An in vitro system for determining the efficacy of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) in preventing B-cell outgrowth due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was developed. Unfractionated cord blood mononuclear cells, T-cell-depleted cord blood mononuclear cells, or adult T-cell-depleted mononuclear cells were exposed to IFN-alpha for 18 to 20 h followed by incubation with the B95-8 strain of EBV for 2 h. B-cell outgrowth was monitored by microscopic examination, [3H]thymidine incorporation, and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen detection. Cell density and viral inoculum both affected the sensitivity of outgrowth to IFN-alpha. IFN-alpha was most effective when added at each feeding after infection as well as before infection with EBV. The mean of the lowest IFN-alpha concentration tested at which transformation failed to occur after infection with the B95-8 strain of EBV at a 50% transforming dose of 10(2.0) to 10(3.0)/ml was similar for unfractionated cord blood mononuclear cells, T-cell-depleted cord blood mononuclear cells, and adult T-cell-depleted mononuclear cells. The B95-8 strain and clinical EBV isolates required similar IFN-alpha concentrations to prevent outgrowth. In this system, IFN-alpha at pharmacologically achievable concentrations prevented EBV-induced B-cell outgrowth. These data indicate that IFN-alpha deserves further study as a potential therapeutic agent for EBV-induced syndromes.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008828:Microbiological Techniques
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I