Expression of target antigen for Epstein-Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T cells on BJAB cells freshly infected with EBV.

The target antigen for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific cytotoxic T cells (Tc) was expressed on BJAB cells exposed to the B95-8 strain of EBV for at least one hour. Ultraviolet-light (UV)-irradiated noninfectious B95-8 virus also induced the target antigen on BJAB cells. Cold target competition tests suggested that the target antigen expressed on EBV-infected BJAB cells was distinct from the lymphocyte-detected membrane antigen (LYDMA) which was also recognized by the EBV-specific Tc and expressed on autologous EBV-Transformed lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) cells. Neither of these target antigens for EBV- specific Tc was detected on the surface of EBV-genome positive BJAB cells which had been kept in a long term culture after EBV-infection. Thus, the virion antigen, especially the EBV-membrane antigen (MA), is a possible candidate for the target antigen expressed on EBV-infected BJAB cells. Lysis of EBV-infected BJAB cells was inhibited by target cell treatment with anti-beta 2 microglobulin (anti-beta 2M) antibody and induction of the effector Tc was dependent on the donor individual. These results suggested the possibility that the Tc recognizing EBV-infected BJAB cells are restricted by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC).