DECREASED CYTOPLASMIC IMMUNOGLOBULIN-A PRODUCTION DURING EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS IMMORTALIZATION ON LYMPHOCYTES FROM PATIENTS WITH ATAXIA-TELANGIECTASIA

Previously, we have reported significantly tower immunoglobulin (Ig) A production in supernatants of cultured lymphoblastoid cells using enz yme-linked immunosorbent assay from patients with ataxia-telangiectasi a (AT) when compared to that of age- and sex-matched healthy individua ls. Here, we further assess the degree of cytoplasmic Ig production in these cells and also analyze it during the early phase of Epstein-Bar r virus immortalization. All classes of cytoplasmic IgM, IgG, and IgA productions were demonstrated in cells from healthy controls. In contr ast; cells from patients with AT showed only cytoplasmic IgM and IgG w ith low or nondetectable levels of IgA during and after the immortaliz ing process. These results suggest B lymphocytes bearing IgA are funct ionally immature and/or defective in patients with AT. (C) 1995 Wiley- Liss, Inc.