[Application of Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphoblastic cells in identification of CTL epitopes specific for Hantaan virus].

AIM: To establish Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B lymphoblastic cell lines (B-LCL) to present peptides as antigen-presenting cells (APC) and stimulate short-cultured T cells secreting IFN-gamma, by which the T cell epitopes are identified. METHODS: PBMCs from patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) were transformed using EBV from supernatant of B95-8 cells. ELISPOT assay was then employed to evaluate the IFN-gamma production of short-cultured G9L-specific CD8(+) T cells stimulated with peptide-pulsed autologous B-LCL cells. RESULTS: B-LCL pulsed with G9L or G9L-nested V15R can stimulate G9L-specific CD8(+) T cells producing IFN-gamma, but not B-LCL pulsed with non-homologous I15P. CONCLUSION: B-LCL can efficiently and specifically present peptides to peptide-specific T cells as non-professional APC.