Immune escape by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) carrying Burkitt's lymphoma: in vitro reconstitution of sensitivity to EBV-specific cytotoxic T cells

Abstract

B lymphoblast cells were immortalized by Infection with a v-myc and v-rafimll containing recombinant retrovirus. The Immortalized B cells do not require exogenous growth factors or mitogens for growth. These cells express characteristic mature B cell phenotypic markers including IgM and IgD. Northern blot analysis detected μ and δ mRNA, and Southern blot analysis revealed rearrangements of Ig genes but not TCR genes In these cells. The Immortalized B cells were found to respond to B cell mitogens by proliferation and IgM secretion, and to respond to IL-4 by an Increase in la expression. Furthermore, they were found to differentiate to secrete IgM and to switch to lgG1 production following interaction with Staphylococcal enterotoxin B-activated T_n2 cells. These cell lines are thus valuable tools for analyzing the molecular events involved In B lymphocyte growth and differentiation.