Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

An immunological basis for inhibition of transformation of human lymphocytes by EB virus

Abstract

IT is well known that Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) transforms human lymphocytes in vitro, and lymphoblastoid cell lines are established1. Macrophages enhance transformation by EBV in vitro2 but may not be essential3. Inhibition of transformation by EBV in vitro has also been reported, and was first observed when lymphocytes from an adult donor with antibody to EBV were infected with EBV and co-cultivated with autochthonous fibroblasts derived from skin4. Fibroblasts of foetal origin did not have this inhibitory effect. Further studies established the principle that co-cultivation of EBV-infected lymphocytes with autochthonous or allogeneic fibroblasts of adult but not foetal origin, was associated with inhibition of transformation by EBV (ref. 5). This report presents evidence that this type of inhibition of transformation by EBV is specifically mediated by mononuclear cell preparations from donors previously infected with EBV. An immunological basis is highly probable.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Purchase on Springer Link

Instant access to full article PDF

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Henle, W., Diehl, V., Kohn, G., zur Hausen, H. & Henle, G. Science 157, 1064–1065 (1967),

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Pope, J. H., Scott, W. & Moss, D. J. Nature new Biol. 246, 140–141 (1973),

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Schneider, U. & zur Hausen, H. Int. J. Cancer 15, 59–66 (1975).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Pope, J. H., Scott, W. & Moss, D. J. Int. J. Cancer 14, 122–129 (1974).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Moss, D. J., Pope, J. H. & Scott, W. Med. Microbiol. Immun. 162, 159–167 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Pope, J. H. in Oncogenesis and Herpesviruses II, IARC Scientific Publications No. 11, Part 1 (ed. de-Thé, G., Epstein, M. A. & zur Hausen, H.) 367–378 (IARC, Lyon, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Moss, D. J. & Pope, J. H. Int. J. Cancer 15, 503–511 (1975).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Svedmyr, E. & Jondal, M. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A, 72, 1622–1626 (1975),

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Rickinson, A. B., Crawford, D. & Epstein, M. A., Clin. exp. Immun. 28, 72–79 (1977).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Takasugi, M., Mickey, M. R. & Terasaki, P. I. Cancer Res. 33, 2898–2902 (1973).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hutt, L. M., Huang, Y. T., Dascomb, H. E. & Pagano, J. S. J. Immun. 115, 243–248 (1975).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Jondal, M. & Pross, H., Int. J. Cancer 15, 596–605 (1975).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Henle, W. & Henle, G. in Oncogenesis and Herpesviruses II, IARC Scientific Publications No. 11, Part 2 (ed. de-Thé, G., Epstein, M. A. & zur Hausen, H.) 215–224 (IARC, Lyon, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Epstein, M. A. in Oncogenesis and Herpesviruses II, IARC Scientific Publications No. 11, Part 2 (ed. de-Thé G., Epstein, M. A. & zur Hausen, H.) 141–151 (IARC, Lyon, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moss, D., SCOTT, W. & POPE, J. An immunological basis for inhibition of transformation of human lymphocytes by EB virus. Nature 268, 735–736 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/268735a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/268735a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing