Differential induction of Epstein-Barr virus-related antigens in human lymphoblastoid cells by virus-mediated cell-to-cell contact.

Differential induction of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related antigens was observed after Sendai virus-medicated fusion of producer and non-producer cells with various human and mouse cells. The EBV-determined early nuclear antigen (ENA), early antigen (EA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) could be induced at a high rate in producer cells (P3HR-1 and B95-8), normally expressing these antigens at very low frequency, as early as 12-24 h after fusion with each other or with human amnion FL cells. In contrast, only one antigen, ENA, was induced in producer cells following fusion with non-producer cells. This limited induction occurred also in non-producer cells fused with FL cells, but not after fusion with each other. EBV induction did not result from fusion of either producer or non-producer cells with mouse cells (L-M (TK-) Cl1D and MCB-L). The differential induction was not the result of heterokaryon formation as determined by autoradiography. The implications of these findings are discussed.