Induction of Epstein-Barr virus-associated nuclear antigen during in vitro transformation of human lymphoid cells.

Human lymphoid cells isolated from the peripheral blood of adults, from cord blood, and from fetal liver, spleen, bone marrow, and thymus were cultivated with or without a cell-free preparation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with demonstrated transforming activity. The cultures were examined for the EBV-associated nuclear antigen (EBNA) and for transfromation into permanent lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL). EBNA, seen only in cultures that had received exogenous EBV, was detected between days 1 and 6 after addition of EBV, most frequently on day 3. EBNA-positive cells had a lymphoblastoid appearance. Transformation into established LCL became apparent between days 12 and 19. The addition of pokeweed mitogen to cultures containing EBV enhanced the development of EBNA, whereas phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A had no such effect. Neither EBNA nor transfomration was observed in lymphoid cells from fetal thymus. In fetal spleen, bone marrow, and liver cells, EBV regularly induced EBNA and LCL transformation.