Epstein-Barr virus receptors on human pharyngeal epithelia

The apparently strict tropism of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) for B lymphocytes has been attributed to the existence of a B-lineage-specific surface molecule, the C3d receptor, which also functions as a receptor for EBV. Two monoclonal antibodies against different determinants on the EBV/C3d receptor of B cells were shown to react with pharyngeal epithelia in a cell differentiation-dependent manner. These findings, which raise the possibility of direct virus entry into a naturally exposed epithelium, strengthen the evidence in favour of an epithelial reservoir of EBV infection in vivo and identify a means whereby the virus/epithelium interactions leading to nasopharyngeal carcinoma might be initiated.