Epstein-Barr virus infection of human gastric carcinoma cells: implication of the existence of a new virus receptor different from CD21.

Recombinant Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with a selectable marker successfully infected the human gastric carcinoma cell lines AGS, MKN28, and MKN74. Following incubation in selective media, drug-resistant cell clones were isolated and proved to be infected with EBV. All gastric carcinoma cell clones were positive for EBNA 1 but negative for EBNA 2. LMP 1 expression was negative in most clones, but there were a few exceptions. Gastric carcinoma cells were negative for the EBV receptor CD21, and infection was not inhibited by pretreatment of cells with the anti-CD21 monoclonal antibody OKB7. The results indicate that gastric carcinoma cells are susceptible to EBV infection and that infection is mediated via a new receptor different from CD21.