The EBNA2-related resistance towards Alpha interferon -IFN-alpha- in Burkitt's lymphoma cells effects induction of IFN-induced genes but not the activation of transcription factor ISGF-3

Transfection of a plasmid encoding the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) gene confers resistance to the antiproliferative effect of alpha interferon in EBV-negative U968 cells. We studied the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in two pairs of Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines, differing in the expression of the putative immortalizing gene of EBV, EBNA2. (Abstract truncated).