Membranes of EBV-carrying virus nonproducer cells inhibit leukocyte migration of EBV-seropositive but not seronegative donors

We have previously shown that the leukocytes of healthy EBV-seropositive (but not seronegative) donors respond with migration inhibition (LMI) when confronted with extracts of EBV-carrying (but not EBV negative) cells. In the present study, we have examined whether this EBV-specific LMI response is capable of detecting a membrane antigen on the surface of EBV-carrying virus nonproducer cells. Crude membranes from EBV-genome carrying and EBV-negative cell lines were used as antigen. Contamination with the EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) was ruled out. Membranes from EBV-genome carrying nonproducer cells inhibited the migration of leukocytes from healthy seropositive donors, whereas membranes from EBV-negative lines had no such effect. Seronegative donors did not show any LMI. The clear difference between the EBV-negative Ramos line and its EBV-converted sublines was particularly conclusive in showing that the membrane component is determined or induced by the viral genome.