Phosphonoacetic acid: inhibition of transformation of human cord blood lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus.

Phosphonoacetic acid disodium salt (PAA) inhibited the transformation of human cord blood lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) at concentrations of 50-100 microgram/ml. At these concentrations, PAA had no effect on the multiplication of EBV transformed human lymphoblastoid cells or on the survival of human cord blood lymphocytes. The transformation of human cord blood lymphocytes by the B95-8 strain of EBV was measured by 3H-thymidine uptake, 5 days or more after infection. The degree of inhibition of transformation was correlated with the relation between the input of EBV and the concentration of PAA in the experiment. PAA inhibited the transformation even when added 24 h after EBV infection, but had no effect when added 48 h after EBV infection. The inhibitory effect of PAA could be overcome by its removal and normal 3H-thymidine uptake was restored even after 6 days of inhibition. The specificity of the inhibitory effect on EBV induced transformation of human cord blood lymphocytes is discussed.