Disparity in the production of lymphoblastogenesis inhibition factor by cultured human B and T lymphoid cell lines.

A comparative study of inhibitory effects of cell-free supernatants from cultured human B and T lymphoid cell lines on lymphocyte blastogenesis indicated that the inhibitory effect of supernatant from B lymphoid cells on lymphocyte blastogenesis was significantly higher than that of supernatant from T lymphoid cells or from non-lymphoid neoplastic cells. The inhibitory effect of supernatant was reversible and dose-related. The inhibitory effect gradually diminished with time when the supernatant from B lymphoid cells was added to the culture, 1-3 days after the beginning of cultures. The supernatant of human B lymphoid cells was also found to be highly active in affecting the mouse thymus cell response. The biological nature of this inhibitory factor has not been defined. Both B lymphoid cell lines used in the present study contained Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes while the T-cell line and the non-lymphoid neoplastic cell lines were free of EBV genomes. Sensitivity of the supernatant of B lymphoid cells to u.v. irradiation and heat suggests the possibility that the EBV genomes released into the culture medium may be responsible for inhibition of lymphocyte blastogenesis; resistance of this supernatant to DNase suggests that the EBV genomes may be double-stranded DNA.