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Replication of Epstein–Barr virus in human epithelial cells infected in vitro

Nature volume 306, pages 480–483 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpes group of viruses and the aetiological agent of infectious mononucleosis, is usually thought of as a lymphotrophic virus with the ability to transform B lymphocytes. So the association of EBV with nasopharyngeal carcinoma is puzzling1–4, especially given the lack of success of attempts to infect epithelial cells with EBV in culture5,6 and the apparent lack of EBV receptors7,8 on epithelial cells5,6. Circumvention of the apparent requirement for membrane receptors by techniques of transfection9,10, microinjection11 and receptor transplantation5 has clearly demonstrated that there is no inherent barrier to EBV replication in nonlymphoid cells, including epithelial cell types. Our ability routinely to detect EBV DNA by in situ hybridization in epithelial cells of the oropharynx from persons with acute infectious mononucleosis suggests that, In vivo, EBV regularly gains access to and replicates lytically in epithelial cells12,13. We report here in vitro evidence for direct infection by EBV and replication of the virus in cultured normal human epithelial cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Research Center and Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, USA

    John W. Sixbey, Ervo H. Vesterinen, John G. Nedrud, Nancy Raab-Traub, Leslie A. Walton & Joseph S. Pagano

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  1. John W. Sixbey
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  2. Ervo H. Vesterinen
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  3. John G. Nedrud
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  4. Nancy Raab-Traub
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  5. Leslie A. Walton
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  6. Joseph S. Pagano
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Sixbey, J., Vesterinen, E., Nedrud, J. et al. Replication of Epstein–Barr virus in human epithelial cells infected in vitro. Nature 306, 480–483 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/306480a0

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