An oncornavirus isolated from human cancer cell line

• Published in: Cancer 1973-07, Vol.32 (1), p.89-96
• Main Authors: Ilyin, K. V., Bykovsky, A. F., Zhdanov, V. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Viral - analysis; Carcinoma - microbiology; Cell Line; Clone Cells; Cricetinae; Dactinomycin - pharmacology; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Karyotyping; Laryngeal Neoplasms - microbiology; Mice; Microscopy, Electron; Neoplasm Transplantation; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Oncogenic Viruses - drug effects; Oncogenic Viruses - enzymology; Oncogenic Viruses - immunology; RNA Viruses - drug effects; RNA Viruses - enzymology; RNA Viruses - immunology; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase - metabolism; Transplantation, Heterologous
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(197307)32:1<89::AID-CNCR2820320112>3.0.CO;2-I

A virus has been isolated from a clone of continuous cell line that was derived from human cancer tissue (HEp‐2 cells). The clone of HEp‐2 cells retains human Karyotype and has no heterogeneous contamination. Injection of the cells and the virus into mice of C3H/Sn, C3H/H2P, BaLB/c lines and into newborn hamsters did not produce tumors in animals. Intracellular virus possesses morphological characteristics of oncornaviruses type A and B; extracellular virus has the properties of oncornaviruses type B. The virus bands at ϱ = 1.16 g/ml in sucrose density gradients, and the production of it is inhibited by actinomycin D. The virions contain reverse transcriptase, and the products of reaction are double‐stranded DNA and RNA:DNA hybrids. The virus is immunologically distinct from mouse mammary tumor virus. Possible human origin of the virus is discussed.