Antibodies to gp350/220 enhance the ability of Epstein-Barr virus to infect epithelial cells.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a persistent, orally transmitted herpesvirus that replicates in B cells and epithelial cells and is associated with lymphoid and epithelial malignancies. The virus binds to CD21 on B cells via glycoprotein gp350/220 and infects efficiently. Infection of cultured epithelial cells has not typically been efficient but can occur in the absence of gp350/220 and CD21 and in vivo is thought to be important to the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We report here that antibodies to gp350/220, which inhibit EBV infection of B cells, enhance infection of epithelial cells. The effect is not mediated by Fc receptor binding but is further enhanced by antibody cross-linking, which may patch gp350/220 in the virus envelope. Saliva from EBV-seropositive individuals has similar effects that can be reversed by depletion of antibody. The results are consistent with a model in which gp350/220 interferes with the access of other important players to the epithelial cell surface. The results may have implications for the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in high-risk populations in which elevated titers of antibody to EBV lytic cycle proteins are prognostic.
Turk
Susan M
SM
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA.
Jiang
Ru
R
Chesnokova
Liudmila S
LS
Hutt-Fletcher
Lindsey M
LM
D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology; D012995:Solubility; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins