Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
06:38
Establishment of Epstein-Barr Virus Growth-transformed Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines
Published on: November 8, 2011
Is EBV persistence in vivo a model for B cell homeostasis?
G Khan1, E M Miyashita, B Yang
1Department of Pathology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA.
Immunity
|August 1, 1996
Summary
The number of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected B cells in healthy individuals is specific to each person and remains stable over time. This suggests that the body
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) establishes persistent infections in most humans.
- Understanding the dynamics of EBV-infected B cells is crucial for comprehending viral latency and host immune control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the absolute numbers of EBV-infected B cells in the peripheral blood of healthy, persistently infected individuals.
- To determine the stability and individual specificity of EBV-infected B cell frequencies over time.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to measure the absolute frequencies of EBV-infected B cells.
- Longitudinal sampling was performed on healthy individuals over a period of 1-3.5 years.
Main Results:
- The frequency of EBV-infected B cells varied widely (1-50 per 10^6 B cells) among healthy individuals.
- Individual frequencies were found to be stable over time, with less than 10% contribution to overall population variance.
- Observed variations were specific to the individual, not indicative of short-term fluctuations.
Conclusions:
- EBV-infected B cell levels are tightly regulated within individuals.
- Homeostatic mechanisms governing normal B cell populations likely also control latently EBV-infected B cells.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
01:24B Cell Activation and Differentiation
The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...