Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocytes produce monoclonal autoantibodies that react with antigens in multiple organs.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal individuals and patients with autoimmune abnormalities such as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and thyroiditis were infected with Epstein-Barr virus, and the culture supernatants were tested for autoantibodies that reacted with normal tissues. Between 58 and 86% of Epstein-Barr virus-transformed cultures produced immunoglobulin M antibodies, and between 9 and 24% of the transformed cultures produced immunoglobulin G antibodies that reacted with normal tissues. Ten Epstein-Barr virus-transformed clones secreting human immunoglobulin M monoclonal autoantibodies were isolated. Four of these monoclonal autoantibodies were studied in depth and found to react with antigens in multiple organs, including thyroid, pancreas, stomach, smooth muscle, and nerves. It is concluded that Epstein-Barr virus can trigger the production of autoantibodies without infecting the target cells to which the autoantibodies are directed.