Human lymphoblastoid cells as hosts for parvoviruses H-1 and rat virus.

A human T-cell line (Molt-4) was shown by viral hemagglutination and infectivity assays to support the replication of rat virus (RV) and H-1 virus. In addition, H-1 virus, but not RV, multiplied in two human B-cell lines, AV-1 and NC-37. The ability to bind radioactively labeled RV was demonstrated for each of the cell lines, but viral adsorption occurred to a greater degree with Molt-4 cells than with either AV-1 or NC-37 cells. After challenge with RV, virus-specific antigens were detected in cells of the B-cell lines by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Infection of AV-1 or NC-37 cells by RV apparently results in an abortive cycle of virus replication. Differences among the three cell lines that might influence with H-1 virus or RV are discussed.