Peripheral blood lymphocytes of a patient with follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) were immortalized in vitro by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Eight cell lines were obtained (termed BNS1, BNS2-1 through BNS2-7), which showed a pattern of idiotypic (id) Ig surface expression and Ig JH and kappa gene rearrangement, identical to that of the parent cells (termed NS), confirming their neoplastic origin. Induction of allogeneic T-cell proliferation by NS cells was mediated by HLA-DR, leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), LFA-3, B7-1/CD80, and CTLA4 and resulted in the upregulation (LFA-3, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], CD40) and induction (B7-1/CD80, B7-2/CD86, L16/activated LFA-1) of accessory molecules on NS cells. In turn, responder T lymphocytes were induced to express B7-1/CD80, B7-2/CD86, CD40 ligand (CD40L), ICAM-1, L16/activated LFA-1, and HLA-DR, reflecting bidirectional signaling between T lymphocytes and B-NHL cells. Preactivation of NS cells by EBV transformation or CD40 engagement resulted in enhanced expression of accessory molecules and abolished the requirement for accessory cells during allostimulation. These resting and activated clonal B cells will be useful in further dissecting the requirements for B-NHL costimulation.