Coexpression of CD40 and CD40 ligand in Epstein-Barr virus-infected T and NK cells and their role in cell survival.
We investigated the role that CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) signaling plays in survival of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected T and NK cells. EBV-infected T and NK cell lines derived from patients with either chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV) or nasal T/NK cell lymphoma, as well as virus-infected peripheral T cells freshly isolated from a patient with CAEBV, were shown to express both CD40 and CD40L on their surface. Apoptosis of these cells was enhanced by blockade of CD40-CD40L signaling by a fusion protein of CD40 and immunoglobulin G (CD40Ig). Expression of CD40 was induced in human CD40L-positive Jurkat T cells after experimental EBV infection, and apoptosis of infected cells was enhanced by CD40Ig. These results suggest that CD40-CD40L signaling promotes survival of EBV-infected T and NK cells and, thus, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of T/NK lymphoproliferative disorders associated with the virus.
Imadome
Ken-Ichi
K
Department of Infectious Diseases, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
Shimizu
Norio
N
Arai
Ayako
A
Miura
Osamu
O
Watanabe
Ken
K
Nakamura
Hiroyuki
H
Nonoyama
Shigeaki
S
Yamamoto
Kohtaro
K
Fujiwara
Shigeyoshi
S
D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology
D019013:CD40 Antigens; D023201:CD40 Ligand