Human epithelial cell expression of an Epstein-Barr virus receptor.

Cultured human epithelium bound and internalized radiolabelled Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) within 1 h of exposure. A similar percentage of cultured cells also were reactive with monoclonal antibodies to the EBV/C3d receptor of B lymphocytes. In cross-sections of fresh frozen, stratified epithelium, receptor expression seemed limited to the less differentiated subpopulation of cells. These findings support the notion of direct infection of epithelial cells by EBV and suggest a viral life cycle in epithelium dependent on the stage of cell differentiation.