Detection of Epstein-Barr virus infection in primary junctional epithelial cell cultures

• Published in: Journal of oral microbiology Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 2301199
• Main Authors: Tonoyan, Lilit, Olivieri, Charles V, Chevalier, Marlène, Marsault, Robert, Doglio, Alain
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 2024
• Subjects: EBV infection; Epstein-Barr virus; in vitro models; junctional epithelial cell culture; Periodontitis; Epstein-Barr virus; Periodontitis; EBV infection; junctional epithelial cell culture; in vitro models
• ISSN: 2000-2297; 2000-2297
• DOI: 10.1080/20002297.2023.2301199

Junctional epithelium (JE) provides the front-line defense against pathogens invading periodontium. The breakdown of the JE barrier is the hallmark of periodontitis. Recent studies have implicated the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as one of the etiopathogenetic factors of periodontitis. EBV exhibits tropism for two target cells : B cells, where it primarily remains latent, and epithelial cells, where viral replication occurs. Our knowledge of junctional epithelial cell (JEC) infection with EBV has been limited by the difficulty of generating cell cultures and the inability to infect JECs readily. To study EBV infection in JECs, we developed human JEC cultures derived from a periodontitis patient. Furthermore, we established a successful contact-free co-culture infection model between the EBV-donor B95-8 cell line and the EBV-permissive JEC culture. JECs and EBV infection of JECs were detected using immunofluorescent staining of cytokeratin 19 and EBNA1, respectively. In addition, EBV infection was confirmed by RT-qPCR for EBNA1, LMP1, and BZLF1 expression. Our results suggest that the infection of JECs with EBV can occur in an experimental model. These outcomes have the potential to enhance our understanding of EBV's involvement in periodontitis and advance periodontal research.