A novel form of Epstein-Barr virus latency in normal B cells in vivo.
We have developed a PCR assay that can detect a single Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome in the presence of 10(6) uninfected cells. Using this assay, we demonstrate that EBV persists, in the peripheral blood of all seropositive individuals tested, in CD19+, CD23-, and CD80 (B7)- B cells. We further show that the virus in these cells is latent, but readily reactivated to produce infectious immortalizing virus; therefore, these cells represent a true site of latent persistence. EBV was not significantly detected in monocytes or T cells. The frequency of infected cells in nine healthy donors varied from 23 to 625 per 10(7) B cells, but was relatively stable for each individual over the course of 2 years. We conclude that the EBV-infected cells in vivo are B cells with a nonactivated phenotype. This represents a novel form of latency in normal B cells.
Miyashita
E M
EM
Department of Pathology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
Yang
B
B
Lam
K M
KM
Crawford
D H
DH
Thorley-Lawson
D A
DA
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009000:Monocytes / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D014775:Virus Activation; D017735:Virus Latency
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D004279:DNA, Viral; D017455:Receptors, IgE