Immortalization of Human Primary B Lymphocytes by Simian Virus 40 Early Region DNA

ABSTRACT

We obtained several immortalized human primary B-lymphocyte cultures by transfection of the plasmid DNA, which consisted of simian virus 40 early-region DNA (pSVTbsr). These immortalized B lymphocytes grew in a suspension culture forming cell clumps, expressed CD23, and had an interleukin-6 (IL-6) susceptibility for immunoglobulin (Ig) production, although there was an absence of Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen. Therefore, the action of introduced pSVTbsr is equivalent to the Epstein–Barr virus infection through induction and maintenance of immortalized state of the primary B lymphocytes.