To study the mechanism(s) responsible for the appearance of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced anti-histone autoantibodies, peripheral blood B lymphocytes from healthy donors were infected with EBV and the resulting lymphoblastoid cell lines were tested for secretion of antibodies reacting with histones. It was found that EBV-transformed cells produce IgM antibody reactive with histones and that the frequency of EBV-inducible circulating B lymphocytes that produce antibodies to histones is at least 10(-5). Moreover, in cultures of tonsillar lymphoid cells, the enrichment in CD5+ B lymphocytes increases the percentage of EBV-transformed cultures making anti-histone IgM antibodies. EBV may therefore, also in vivo, induce natural anti-histone antibody by polyclonal B-cell activation without any requirement of antigen to trigger antibody response.
Autori interni: | |
Autori: | GARZELLI C; M. INCAPRERA; A. BAZZICHI; M. MANUNTA; F. ROGNINI; G. FALCONE |
Titolo: | Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B lymphocytes produce natural antibodies to histones. Immunology Letters (Amsterdam, Olanda) 39, 277-282, 1994. |
Anno del prodotto: | 1994 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Articolo in rivista |