Characterisation of Epstein-Barr virus-specific memory T cells from the peripheral blood of seropositive individuals.

Journal article

We have investigated the regression phenomenon which occurs when EBV-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells from seropositive individuals are cultured for one month at high cell concentration and have confirmed that regression is mediated by E+ lymphocytes. When helper/inducer (Leu 3a+) and suppressor/cytotoxic (Leu 2a+) cells are separated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting from fresh peripheral blood and co-cultured with EBV-infected autologous E- mononuclear cells, regression only regularly occurs in cultures receiving suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes. Titration experiments show that suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes are more active in the regression assay that unfractionated E+ cells. When Ia+ E+ and Ia- E+ cells are separated one week after initiation of co-cultures of E+ cells and EBV-infected E- cells, both Ia+ E+ and Ia- E+ cells are active in the regression assay although regression occurs earlier in cultures receiving Ia+ E+ cells. Experiments in which NK cells are isolated using the monoclonal antibodies H25 and H366 show that NK cells do not influence the regression phenomenon in normal individuals.

Authors: Crawford, D; Iliescu, V; Edwards, A; Beverley, P

• Journal: British journal of cancer
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 681-686
• Publication date: 1983-05-01
• DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1983.106
• EISSN: 1532-1827
• ISSN: 0007-0920
• Language: English
• Keywords: T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; Flow Cytometry; Cells, Cultured; Cell Separation; Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Immunologic Memory; T-Lymphocytes; Rosette Formation; Herpesvirus 4, Human; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Humans