Infection of the HTLV-I-harbouring T-lymphoblastoid line MT-2 by Epstein-Barr virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous human B-lymphotropic virus, is associated with certain lymphoproliferative diseases of T-cell lineage. To understand the mechanism by which EBV infects T cells, we have tested the susceptibility of various human T-cell lines to the virus. We report here that the HTLV-I-harbouring T-lymphoblastoid line MT-2 carries a high level of CD21/EBV receptors on their surface, adsorbs fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled EBV, and synthesizes virus latent antigens (EBNA-1 and LMP) following EBV infection. Pretreatment of MT-2 cells with anti-CD21 monoclonal antibody OKB7 inhibited the virus binding as well as the synthesis of virus latent antigen. These data suggest that human T-cells can be infected with EBV via functionally active virus receptors.