Specific allergen-induced Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-positive B cells from patients with chronic-active Epstein-Barr virus infections.

Enriched B cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with chronic-active Epstein-Barr virus (CA-EBV) infections and subjects with mild and moderate allergies were cultured in vitro with specific allergens known to cause allergic reactions. A significant increase in Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen+ cells occurred only in the B cells obtained from patients with CA-EBV when cells were stimulated with the specific antigen. Results indicate an association between EBV-transformed cells and B cells with idiotypic expressions and may help to explain the association between CA-EBV and allergy in these patients.