Comparison of Interleukin-1 with Endogenous B-Cell Factors for Effects on Lymphoma Cell Growth After EBV Conversion

Abstract

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) transforms human B lymphocytes so that they grow as continuous cell lines. B lymphocyte lines transformed in vitro by EBV (LCL) and B lymphocyte lines derived from EBV positive and EBV negative Burkitt’s lymphomas (BL) release a 15–25 K growth enhancing supernatant (GE-S) factor(s) which functions similarly to macrophage derived Interleukin-1 (IL-1). GES and purified IL-1 were compared and both enhanced growth of LCL and BL similarly. Preliminary data show growth of Ramos, an EBV negative BL, is not changed by GE-S or 1L-1, whereas growth of EBV-converted Ramos sublines is enhanced by the addition of either. These initial findings suggest that EBV infection induces the development of growth factor sensitivity in lymphoma cells.