Related Experiment Videos
Heterogeneity of EBV-transformable human B lymphocyte populations
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transforms B cells more efficiently in a new culture system, revealing that transformable cells are diverse in size, cell cycle, and surface markers, indicating inherent B cell properties influence transformation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects human B cells, but efficient transformation into lymphoblastoid cell lines is rare.
- Previous studies suggested only resting B lymphocytes are readily transformed by EBV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-examine the properties of EBV-transformable B cells using an improved limiting dilution culture system.
- To characterize the heterogeneity of EBV-susceptible B cell subpopulations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a limiting dilution culture system for high-efficiency EBV transformation of B lymphocytes.
- Employed Poisson analysis to determine frequencies of transformable lymphocytes.
- Used anti-immunoglobulin antibodies for B cell subpopulation purification via panning experiments.
Main Results:
- Identified EBV-susceptible B cells committed to IgM, IgG, or IgA secretion at varying frequencies.
- Observed that IgM-committed cells are often large and in the cell cycle, while IgG/IgA precursors are small and in G0/G1.
- Demonstrated that surface IgM (sIgM) expression precedes EBV transformation for IgM-committed cells, with high cloning efficiency.
Conclusions:
- EBV-susceptible B cells are heterogeneous regarding cell size, cell cycle status, and surface immunoglobulin determinants.
- Transformability appears to be an intrinsic B cell property, influenced by factors promoting cell cycle entry.
- The developed culture system enhances the detection of EBV-responsive B cells, revealing greater diversity than previously recognized.