Stimulation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by autologous EBV-infected B cells

EBV carrying lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) strongly stimulate DNA synthesis in normal autologous peripheral T lymphocytes in vitro (autologous stimulation-AS), and generate non-specifically cytotoxic T cells. The AS reaction was explored by replacing the stimulating LCLs with recently infected B cells from normal individuals. Autologous B cells infected one day earlier with EBV induced significant DNA stimulation but generated no killer cells. The ability to generate cytotoxic T cells appeared 6 to 8 days after EBV infection. Cytotoxicity was not EBV-specific. The ability to activate the alternate complement pathway appeared at approximately the same time. B-cells of convalescent infectious mononucleosis (IM) patients could generate autologous cytotoxicity already 1 day after EBV-infection. The difference between the AS reactions induced by normal and convalescent IM donors is discussed.