In vitro induction of anti-intermediate filament antibody in lymphocyte cultures by Epstein-Barr virus.

Serum antibodies reactive with intermediate filaments of the cytoskeleton (anti-IF antibodies) are often present in infectious mononucleosis, some other viral diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis. The mechanism of their production is not known, but it is possible that the formation of this and other autoantibodies result from polyclonal activation of B-cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from subjects with or without serum anti-IF antibody were therefore cultured in the presence or absence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). IgM anti-IF antibody was produced in both unfractionated and T-cell-depleted cultures, but not in the supernatants of the same cells cultured without added EBV.