Immunoglobulin A-induced shift of Epstein-Barr virus tissue tropism.

Abstract

Increased immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) appear months to years before the clinical onset of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and define populations at high risk for this EBV-associated epithelial cancer common in south China. In the human HT-29 epithelial cell line, polymeric IgA (pIgA) specific for EBV promoted infection of the otherwise refractory epithelial cells. When bound to pIgA, EBV entered epithelial cells through secretory component-mediated IgA transport but no longer infected B lymphocytes. Such an immune-induced shift in EBV tissue tropism provides a paradigm for endogenous spread of EBV in the immune host that predicts infectious sequelae of epithelium.

• Authors: J W Sixbey, Q Y Yao
• Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science) Vol. 255 Issue 5051 Pg. 1578-80 (Mar 20 1992) ISSN: 0036-8075 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1312750 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Gene Products, env
• Immunoglobulin A
• Secretory Component

Topics

• B-Lymphocytes (immunology, microbiology)
• Base Sequence
• Epithelium (microbiology)
• Gene Products, env
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (pathogenicity)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin A (immunology)
• In Vitro Techniques
• Infectious Mononucleosis (immunology)
• Lymphocyte Activation (immunology)
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms (immunology)
• Secretory Component (physiology)