Transformation of animal cells with human T-cell leukemia virus type II.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type II (HTLV-II) was tested for its ability to transform normal animal cells. The HTLV-II-infected human T-cell line, HTLV-IIA was lethally X-irradiated and cocultivated with normal leukocytes of rabbit and crab-eating monkey and spleen cells of hamster. The transformed cell lines, designated Ra-IIA, Si-IIA and Ham-IIA, were established. These cell lines were shown to be infected with HTLV-II by the polymerase chain reaction method combined with the digoxigenin-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. These cell lines were examined for viral antigens by the indirect immunofluorescence method. Although the cytoplasma of over 90% of the cells of Si-IIA cell line was brilliantly stained, Ra-IIA and Ham-IIA cells were not stained. Electron microscopy of cells of the Si-IIA line revealed C-type virus particles in the extracellular spaces.