Correlation between the expression of CD4 and the level of CD4 mRNA in human B-cell lines

Lines of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid B-cells (B-LCLs) differ in the expression of surface CD4 glycoproteins. The aim of the present study was to correlate the expression of CD4 molecules on B-LCL cells with the synthesis of CD4 mRNA. RT-PCR assays were performed with oligonucleotide primers designed to detect mRNA corresponding to intracellular, transmembrane, or extracellular portions of the CD4 molecule. RT-PCR assays with all sets of primers were positive in T-cell populations, but were negative in various B-cell lymphoma lines. The majority of the LCLs established by EBV transfection of non-selected B-cells yielded positive results with at least some of the primer sets used for detection of CD4 mRNA. A significant positive correlation was found between the proportion of CD4+ cells in various B-LCLs and the concentration of CD4 mRNA. LCLs established from B-cells which synthesized various antibodies did not express CD4 molecules and either failed to synthesize CD4 mRNA or produced very low concentrations. These findings indicate that the expression of CD4 on B-LCLs is directly correlated with the concentration of CD4 mRNA synthesized and with the differentiation stage in which B-cells were immortalized by EBV infection.