Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B lymphocytes produce natural antibodies to histones.
To study the mechanism(s) responsible for the appearance of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced anti-histone autoantibodies, peripheral blood B lymphocytes from healthy donors were infected with EBV and the resulting lymphoblastoid cell lines were tested for secretion of antibodies reacting with histones. It was found that EBV-transformed cells produce IgM antibody reactive with histones and that the frequency of EBV-inducible circulating B lymphocytes that produce antibodies to histones is at least 10(-5). Moreover, in cultures of tonsillar lymphoid cells, the enrichment in CD5+ B lymphocytes increases the percentage of EBV-transformed cultures making anti-histone IgM antibodies. EBV may therefore, also in vivo, induce natural anti-histone antibody by polyclonal B-cell activation without any requirement of antigen to trigger antibody response.
Garzelli
C
C
Department of Biomedicine, University of Pisa, Italy.
Incaprera
M
M
Bazzichi
A
A
Manunta
M
M
Rognini
F
F
Falcone
G
G
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006657:Histones / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques
D015703:Antigens, CD; D001323:Autoantibodies; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D006657:Histones