Epstein‐barr virus (EBV)‐induced lymphoproliferative disease in cotton‐topped marmosets

Abstract

Six cotton-topped marmoset monkeys (Sangiunus oedipus) were inoculated with 10(5) transforming units of B95-8 virus, and two of them developed fatal lymphoproliferative disease. The EBV-carrying tumor cells from these marmosets had the following characteristics: (1) they were polyclonal by surface immunoglobulin and immunoglobulin production in vitro; (2) they had no specific chromosome abnormalities, and (3) they failed to form colonies in large percentages in agarose. It is proposed that a spectrum of phenotypes of EBV-induced lymphoproliferative diseases in the cotton-topped marmosets may be identified and are more akin to fatal infectious mononucleosis or X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome than to Burkitt's lymphoma.

Epstein-Barr virus induces aggressive lymphoproliferative disorders of human B cell origin in SCID/hu chimeric mice.

“…While the EBV genome is generally present in the proliferating cells in these conditions, there is limited information on its role in pathogenesis, since the natural host range is limited to man. Although new world monkeys, particularly cotton-top tamarins, develop tumors and lymphoproliferative disease 14-21 d after EBV injection (6)(7)(8), these animals are endangered and not generally available. In this paper we describe a novel model for EBV-induced human lymphoproliferative disease.…”

Epstein-Barr Virus–Infected Marmoset Cells Do Not Form Lymphomas in Mice with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

“…Regarding the latter supposition, the expression of cell surface markers is known to differ between human and simian lymphocytes and lymphoblastoid cells (36)(37)(38). If there is an inherent inability of marmoset cells to engraft onto the SCID mice, one might expect the same to be true of marmoset lymphoma cells themselves (2,4). If this turns out to be the case, perhaps future molecular biologic manipulation of marmoset lymphocytes, lymphoblastoid cells, or lymphoma cells will allow the determination of what it is about the marmoset cells that prevents them from engrafting in SCID mice.…”

Viral Diseases of Common Marmosets

“…Their responses to experimental EBV infection partly resemble those of humans, and common marmosets may provide a useful model for exploring the potential of cofactors involved in the development of EBV-associated neoplasia [17]. Cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) experimentally infected with EBV B95-8 virus react in a different manner and develop a fatal lymphoproliferative disease that resembles human Burkitt's lymphoma [18,19]. Similarly, white-lipped marmosets (Saguinus labiatus) develop lymphoma following experimental EBV inoculation [20].…”