Transformation of tonsil lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus.

Tonsil lymphocytes obtained from children and adults at tonsillectomy were examined for susceptibility to infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in vitro. Of 37 specimens, 24 (65%) were transformed by EBV. Rate of transformation was higher in the cells from younger children than in those from older children and adults, but the susceptibility was not directly correlated to the titer of antibody against EBV in donor serum. All 22 transformed tonsil cell lines tested were carrying EBV-associated nuclear antigen, and 8 of them produced cytoplasmic IgA in 15-45% of cells. The results suggest that tonsil lymphocytes are targets of EBV.