Epstein-Barr virus binding to CD21, the virus receptor, activates resting B cells via an intracellular pathway that is linked to B cell infection

The Journal of General Virology
M L RobertsN R Cooper

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) initiates infection of normal B lymphocytes by binding to CD21, a complement receptor. Since EBV, unlike most viruses, preferentially infects resting (non-activated) cells, the present studies were undertaken to evaluate the hypothesis that intracellular signalling pathway(s) triggered by EBV binding to CD21 activate the expression of certain cellular genes, as well as the initially expressed viral genes, and thus enable EBV to infect resting B cells. Experiments with nontransforming EBV, recombinant virus ligand and anti-CD2 1 MAbs show that EBV binding to CD21 on resting B cells increases CD23 mRNA levels independently of viral gene expression. A panel of five protein kinase C (PKC) and tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors, all with different modes of action, exhibited a distinctive pattern of effects on the EBV induced induction of CD23 expression, ranging from nearly complete inhibition to no influence. The results suggest that distinct PKC isoforms and PTKs are involved in the signalling pathway(s) triggered by EBV binding to CD21. Significantly, the five inhibitors showed the same pattern of effects on the earliest stages of infection (EBNA-2 transcription) and B cell transformation (mitogenesis and c...Continue Reading

Citations

Jan 3, 2001·Journal of Virology·K L MossmanJ R Smiley
Mar 1, 2011·Virology Journal·Cynthia MegyolaSumita Bhaduri-McIntosh
Aug 29, 1997·The Journal of Experimental Medicine·N SuganoN R Cooper
Jul 13, 2005·Cytokine·Stefania MilitiOttaviano Serlupi-Crescenzi
Oct 18, 2005·The Journal of General Virology·Claire Shannon-LoweHenri-Jacques Delecluse

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