Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-positive nasopharyngeal hybrid cells.

An epithelial-like hybrid cell line was established by cell fusion of 8-azahypoxanthine-resistant epithelial cells (Ad-AH) with lymphoblastoid cells (A2L), derived from the human nasopharynx. The nasopharyngeal hybrid cells, designated as A2L/AH, were Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated nuclear antigen (EBNA)-positive by the anticomplement immunofluorescence method. Furthermore, the treatment of the hybrid cells with 5-Iodo-2' -deoxyuridine (IUDR) induced early antigen (EA) and viral capsid antigens (VCA), while the treatment of nonproducer lymphoblastoid cells, A2L, induced EA but not VCA. The appearance of IUDR-induced VCA in the hybrid cells suggests that some factor produced by the Ad-AH cells might neutralize a repressed state of VCA and thus activate these antigens with the treatment of IUDR. These established nasopharyngeal hybrid cells might be useful for studies of in vitro nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) since no EBV-carrying NPC cell lines have been established.