Chemically purified serum factor can induce both Epstein-Barr virus antigen synthesis and cell differentiation

The effects of purified Epstein-Barr virus-inducing serum factor (EIF) on the lymphoblastoid cell line Raji latently infected with Epstein-Barr virus were studied. Activated serum factor was capable of both: cooperating with n-butyrate and/or TPA in inducing synthesis of EBV antigens and triggering cell differentiation towards plasma cell as determined by electron microscopy. It seems therefore that the same serum component was involved in the induction of both phenomena.