Figure 1. Generation of EBV-specific cytotoxic T cells.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from donor blood are infected with a laboratory strain of EBV to set up a B-cell lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL). These cells show the same pattern of EBV gene expression as those derived from type III latency EBV malignancies such as post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). Irradiated LCLs are then used to stimulate another aliquot of PBMCs resulting in expanded EBV-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs).