CD150‑dependent activation of EBV‑transformed B cells induces the differentiation of peripheral blood monocytes via the secretion of multiple cytokines.

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.