Herpes simplex virus infection of in vitro cultured neuronal cells (mouse neuroblastoma C 1300 cells).

The nature of the restriction of herpes simplex virus replication in C 1300 neuroblastoma cells was studied. A low rate of adsorption was observed, probably due to the relatively few receptors for HSV on plasma membranes of C 1300 cells. The penetration rate of HSV to the nucleus was slow with an impaired processing of attached virus from plasma membrane to cell nucleus. Even at a high multiplicity of infection only a low percentage of the C 1300 neuroblastoma cells was permissively infected as determined by infectious centre assays. The yield of infectious HSV per virus-producing C 1300 cell was 1% of the yield from GMK control cells. The restriction in neuroblastoma cells of HSV infection could not be accounted for by sensitivity of cells to interferon or by an efficient induction of interferon. Evidence was obtained for the presence in C 1300 cells of an inhibitor of HSV replication not compatible with classical interferon. Observations on C 1300 cells maintaining many characteristics of differentiated neurons suggest that these cells may be useful as a model for studies on HSV-neuron interactions.