Establishment of retrovirus-, Epstein-Barr virus-positive B-lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from individuals at risk for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from male individuals at risk for AIDS were cultured in the presence of interleukin-2. Approximately 90% of cultures originating from pre-AIDS and AIDS patients were retrovirus-positive as detected by the reverse transcriptase (RT) assay and confirmed by electron microscopy. Prolonged incubation of the retrovirus-positive cells resulted in the establishment of several interleukin-2-independent B-lymphoblastoid cell lines. These cells were positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific antigens and contained EBV particles. When irradiated cells from the new lines were cocultivated with an RT-negative T-cell line CEM, an efficient transmission of retrovirus was detected. The supernatants from cocultivated cells had 5-10 fold higher levels of RT activity as compared with the supernatant from the cell line alone. Type-C retroviral particles and budding structures similar to those of human T cell leukemia virus type III (HTLV-III) and lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) were found by electron microscopy. HTLV-III/LAV-specific polypeptides were detected by immunoprecipitation with sera from lymphadenopathy and AIDS patients, but not with sera from healthy individuals. Our data suggest that EBV-infected B lymphocytes from individuals at risk for AIDS may serve as a biological reservoir for the AIDS-associated retrovirus.