IMMUNE MODULATION OF HUMAN B-LYMPHOCYTES BY GENE-TRANSFER WITH RECOMBINANT EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS AMPLICONS

We described previously a novel mode of gene transfer by infection of human B lymphocytes with recombinant Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) amplicon s. This system was explored for its potential use in expressing variou s recombinant genes, including the cytokine IL-4, the HIV envelope gly coprotein (gp120) and a suicide and gag gene. Recombinant genes were p resent as multiple copy episomes and stable, high level recombinant ge ne expression could be detected by antigenic and functional assays. Am plicon-infected B cells secreted high levels of recombinant cytokine a nd efficiently presented recombinant antigens through classes I and IT MHC-restricted antigen processing pathways. Thus, recombinant EBV amp licons can be used to express components of the immune system or heter ologous genes for immune recognition in human B cells. Combining gene transfer with EBV infection may provide unique advantages for in vitro and in vivo gene transfer. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.