Peripheral B cells latently infected with Epstein-Barr virus display molecular hallmarks of classical antigen-selected memory B cells.

ABSTRACT: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) establishes a lifelong persistent infection within peripheral blood B cells with the surface phenotype of memory cells. To date there is no proof that these cells have the genotype of true germinal-center-derived memory B cells. It is critical to understand the relative contribution of viral mimicry versus antigen signaling to the production of these cells because EBV encodes proteins that can affect the surface phenotype of infected cells and provide both T cell help and B cell receptor signals in the absence of cognate antigen. To address these questions we have developed a technique to identify single EBV-infected cells in the peripheral blood and examine their expressed Ig genes. The genes were all isotype-switched and somatically mutated. Furthermore, the muta

SUBMITTER: Souza TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1306799 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature