The spontaneous and induced synthesis of Epstein-Barr virus antigens in Raji cells immobilized on surface coated with anti-lymphocyte globulin.

Immobilization of Raji cells on surface coated with anti-lymphocyte globulin (ALG) at low cell densities lead to the synthesis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) early antigen (EA) in up to 5% of the cells. At higher cell densities the percentage of antigen-positive cells decreased and at confluency no antigen synthesis was observed. Addition of iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd) to low density cultures increased the expression of EA to 20%, whereas in confluent cultures the cells could not be induced to synthesize EA. Treatment of cells in suspension with ALG failed to induced EA synthesis and did not potentiate the effect of IdUrd. Immobilized Raji cells proved to be suitable targets for superinfection with EBV derived from P3HR1 cultures.