title: Isolation of Epstein-Barr virus-infected clones of the human T-cell line MT-2: use of recombinant viruses with a positive selection marker.
abstract: Certain classes of human T-cell lymphomas have been shown to be persistently infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). To achieve an experimental system of persistent EBV infection in T cells, we used EBV recombinants with a positive selection marker. Infection of the human T-cell line MT-2 with EBV recombinants that had a hygromycin resistance gene and subsequent selection with this drug permitted isolation and long-term maintenance of EBV-infected MT-2 clones. For each clone, essentially 100% of cells were positive for EBV nuclear antigen. These MT-2 clones harbor monoclonal episomes of EBV DNA and stably express two EBV latent proteins, EBV nuclear antigen 1 and latent membrane protein 1. The growth of these EBV-infected MT-2 clones was slower than that of uninfected clones, suggesting that EBV affects regulation of T-cell proliferation. EBV recombinants with a positive selection marker will be a useful tool in establishing experimental systems of persistent EBV infection in certain non-B-cell lineages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ono
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation; D002934:Cinnamates; D002999:Clone Cells; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006921:Hygromycin B / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D002934:Cinnamates; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006921:Hygromycin B; C026273:hygromycin A