Differences in expression of surface marker characteristics on Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human and simian lymphoid cell lines.

Human lymphoblastoid cell lines transformed in vitro by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) had receptors for fixed complement detectable by a rosette test. EBV transformed cells derived from cotton-topped marmoset leukocytes did not express this receptor. Evidence is presented that both human and marmoset cell lines arose from precursor cells which have complement receptors. Our findings suggest that transformation of marmoset leukocytes by EBV results in the loss of a differentiated surface marker.