RAPID PROLIFERATION OF B-CELLS FROM ADENOIDS IN RESPONSE TO EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS INFECTION

EBV is a human tumor virus that is associated with different types of tumors, A unique feature of EBV is its capability to infect and immort alize human B cells both in vivo and in vitro. In cell culture, this p rogress is termed immortalization and infected B cells grow out to per manent, so-called lymphoblastoid cell lines, During our experiments, w e observed that B lymphocytes derived from adenoids are infected effic iently by EBV and proliferate much more rapidly than any other known t ype of B cell. High concentrations of adhesion molecules and of CD21, the EBV receptor, present on these cells may account for this phenomen on, Adenoid B cells may therefore represent a particular subpopulation of preactivated B lymphocytes that can greatly simplify and enhance t he production of lymphoblastoid cell lines for, e.g., antigen-presenti ng cells for gene therapeutic approaches and similar applications.