Oxidant Production by Human B Lymphocytes: Detection of Activity and Identification of Components Involved

The O-2-generating NADPH oxidase, originally thought to be expressed only in phagocytic cells of the immune system, can also be expressed in B lymphocytes. Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cell lines (EBV-BL) can generate O-2 at rates corresponding to between 1 and 5% of the rates obtained by activated neutrophils. The composition of the NADPH oxidase of EBV-BL appears to be identical to that of phagocytic cells. In this report, methods are described for the establishment of EBV-BL, together with assays for the measurement of reactive oxidant production and detection of the constituent components of the NADPH oxidase in these cells.