Characterization of Epstein-Barr virus-specific T-cell hybridomas derived from infectious mononucleosis.

Somatic cell hybridization was utilized to produce hybrids with surface receptors that would pertain directly to those expressed in vivo during Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Lymphocytes were obtained during acute infectious mononucleosis (IM) and fused to a double mutant of the JM human T-lymphoma cell lines. Hybrid cells that reacted with autologous EBV-infected lymphoblasts were detected by the release of Interleukin-2 into the culture medium. Reactive hybridomas also released IL-2 following coculture with allogeneic EBV-infected cells when those cells shared HLA-DR antigens of the primary parental cells. In contrast, stimulator cells with no shared HLA-DR or without evidence of EBV infection never induced IL-2 release. These results suggest the existence of a population of T cells that arise during acute IM and could account for the known proliferative phase of the disease. The requirements of IL-2 stimulation are currently under study using this system.