Surface markers and size of lymphocytes in human umbilical cord blood stimulated into deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by Epstein-Barr Virus

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Abstract
Subpopulations of lymphocytes in human umbilical cord blood which are stimulated into DNA synthesis by Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] are characterized. Lymphocytes were examined simultaneously for DNA synthesis by autoradiography and for surface markers by rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes or erythrocytes coated with antibody and mouse complement (EAC). The subpopulation which incorporated [3H]thymidine after exposure to virus consisted mainly of cells which formed rosettes with EAC. Lymphocytes were enriched or depleted of thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes, null cells or cells forming rosettes with EAC. The extent of cell sensitivity to stimulation by EBV correlated with the proportion of the population which formed rosettes with EAC. When mononuclear cell populations were depleted of T lymphocytes and fractionated by size, small lymphocytes showed higher rates of DNA synthesis after virus exposure and higher transformation frequency than did larger cells or unfractionated cells. Cells stimulated into DNA synthesis by EBV appear the same as cells which are ultimately transformed.