Membranes of EBV-carrying virus nonproducer cells inhibit leukocyte migration of EBV-seropositive but not seronegative donors
Szigeti, R.; Volsky, D.J.; Luka, J.; Klein, G.
Journal of Immunology 126(5): 1676-1679
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 6260854 Document Number: 172193
We have previously shown that the leukocytes of healthy EBV-seropositive (but not seronegative) donors respond with migration inhibition (LMI) when confronted with extracts of EBV-carrying (but not EBV negative) cells. In the present study, we have examined whether this EBV-specific LMI response is capable of detecting a membrane antigen on the surface of EBV-carrying virus nonproducer cells. Crude membranes from EBV-genome carrying and EBV-negative cell lines were used as antigen. Contamination with the EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) was ruled out. Membranes from EBV-genome carrying nonproducer cells inhibited the migration of leukocytes from healthy seropositive donors, whereas membranes from EBV-negative lines had no such effect. Seronegative donors did not show any LMI. The clear difference between the EBV-negative Ramos line and its EBV-converted sublines was particularly conclusive in showing that the membrane component is determined or induced by the viral genome.