부산대학교 도서관

We addressed the question whether thein vitrointeraction of two Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-genome-positive B cell lines (EB-3 and HilB-γ) with eitherMycoplasma pneumoniaeorM. hominis, with the «AIDS-related» mycoplasma species (M. fermentans,M. fermentanssubsp.incognitus,M. penetrans,M. genitalium) or with mycoplasma species known to be mere commensals of the respiratory tract (M. oraleandM. salivarium) would result in expression of mRNAs for IL-2, IL-2R, IL-4 and IL-6 as determined by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR after 4 and 24 h of cocultivation. The pattern of cytokine gene expression observed depended on (i) the origin of the transformed cell line, (ii) the pathogenicity of theMycoplasmaspecies, and (iii) the length of cocultivation. The EBV-immortalized lymphoblastoid cell line HilB-γ showed mRNA expression for IL-2, IL-2-receptor, IL-4 and IL-6 peaking 24 h after stimulation withM. pneumoniaeand all AIDS-related mycoplasma species tested. The Burkitt lymphoma cell line EB-3 showed a distinct and isolated strong II-2/IL-2 R-mRNA expression within 4 h after contact with the pathogenic and all of the AIDS related mycoplasma species. In neither EBV-containing cell line cytokine was gene expression detectable after stimulation with the commensal mycoplasma species,M. oraleandM. salivarium, indicating species differences in the ability of mycoplasmas to interact with and stimulate B-cell lines. Our data suggest that some mcyoplasma species may act as immunomodulatory cofactors by eliciting inappropriate cytokine gene expression in B cells latently infected with EBV. Therefore, this cultivation model may prove useful in evaluating the pathogenetic potential of novel isolated mycoplasma species.