Sv40-induced transformation of cells of the lizard Gekko gecko

✍ Scribed by H. Fred Clark; Fred Jensen; Vittorio Defendi

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1972
• Tongue: French
• Weight: 943 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0020-7136
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.2910090317

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Attempts to infect four cell lines of reptilian origin, GL1 (Gekko gecko), IgH‐2 (Iguana iguana) and VH2 and VSW (both Vipera russelli), with SV40 led to successful infection of the lizard cell line GL1 only. SV40 infection, indicated by acquisition of persisting T antigen in 100% of the cell population, was obtained in cells inoculated and maintained at 23, 30 or 35°C. (The optimal temperature for GL1 cell growth is 30°C). In early passages, infected GL1 cells exhibited a more orderly growth pattern and a more uniform cell morphology than did control cells. However, at about the 50th passage level after infection, a more exuberant growth pattern developed, characterized by cell saturation densities exceeding those of control cell cultures approximately threefold. Infectious virus in low titer was recovered from cells and media of infected cell lines tested during the first 21 passages post infection. At subsequent passage levels, virus could be rescued from cells maintained at each of the three different incubation temperatures by co‐cultivation with AGMK cells, but not directly from the cultures. The presence of SV40 tumor‐specific transplantation antigen was demonstrated by experiments in which hamsters inoculated with infected GL1 cells received marked protection against SV40 tumor induction. Further evidence of the altered state of the SV40‐infected cells was provided by demonstration of increased resistance to inhibition of cell growth by dextran sulfate, and an enhanced ability of the cells to multiply at supraoptimal temperatures. The evidence indicates that cells of a poikilothermic vertebrate have been transformed in vitro by the mammalian papovavirus SV40. This is the first demonstration of which we are aware of viral transformation of poikilothermic cells in vitro.