Induction of interleukin-10 on activation of Epstein-Barr virus in EBV-infected B-cell lines

Human (h) interleukin-10 (IL-10) exhibits a strong DNA and amino acid seque nce homology to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BCRF1 genome, viral (v) IL-10, We analyzed the production of IL-10 for EBV activation in B-cell lines. Th e latent EBV in Akata cells was activated by the cross-linking of surface i mmunoglobulin G (IgG) with anti-human IgG, The levels of IL-10 (h+v) and vI L-10 in the culture fluids were measured by a specific enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), IL-10(h+v) was detected at the same time for EBV imm ediate early gene BZLF1 product ZEBRA and early gene BMRF1 product EA-D, Th is was more than 4 hours prior to the appearance of vIL-10, and late gene p roducts gp 350/220 and viral capsid antigen. The induction of hIL-10 and vI L-10 mRNAs were detected in anti-IgG-treated Akata cells by reverse transcr iption-polymerase chain reaction. The induction of IL-10(h+v) and vIL-10 wa s inhibited with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin, or with an inhibi tor of herpesvirus DNA polymerase, phosphonoacetic acid, or acyclovir, IL-1 0(h+v) and vIL-10 were also detected in the supernatants of Akata and Daudi but not Ramos cells infected with P3HR-1 EBV, These results show the IL-10 induction on EBV activation in EBV-carrying B-cell lines.