CD150, also termed signaling lymphocyte activation molecule family member 1, is a cell surface receptor expressed on T cells, B cells, dendritic cells (DCs) and some tumors. Stimulation of CD150 on immune cells induces cell proliferation and cytokine production. However, the function of CD150 in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected B cells is still not fully understood. In the present study, CD150 expression on B cells increased rapidly following EBV infection, and various CD150 antibodies, measles viral proteins and recombinant CD150 proteins induced the secretion of multiple cytokines in both CD150
+
EBV-transformed B cells and EBV
+
lymphoma cells. Notably, the IL-1α protein level showed the greatest increase among all cytokines measured. The culture supernatant containing these cytokines induced the rapid differentiation of monocytes to DCs after only 2 days
in vitro
, which was faster than the established DC maturation time. Furthermore, knockdown of CD150 expression led to a reduction in the secretion of multiple cytokines, and monocyte differentiation was partially inhibited by anti-IL-1α and anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor neutralizing antibodies. Collectively, the results of the present study suggest that CD150 activation triggers cytokine production in EBV-transformed B cells, and that measles virus coinfection might affect immune responses through the production of various cytokines in EBV
+
lymphoma cells.