Aim: To establish immortalized B lymphoblast cell line (BLCL) from patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in vitro.
Methods: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from the patients with CHB by routine method and incubated with EB virus (EBV) in the presence of CpG DNA motifs and cyclosporin A (CysA) for about 28 days. Morphological characteristic of the established immortalized BLCL was observed by microscope and the expression of CD19 and CD23 on cellular surface was determined by flow cytometry.
Results: BLCL was successfully established and could be cultured and propagated for a long time in vitro.
Conclusion: EBV-immortalized BLCL provides a resource of target cells for further research on the cellular immunity of patients with CHB.