Cell growth and differentiation in vitro in mouse macrophages transformed by a tsA mutant of simian virus 40. III. Large T antigen level and cell proliferation and survival in an SV40 tsA640-transformed macrophage line.

The levels of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen in a tsA-transformed mouse macrophage line at the permissive (33 degrees C) and the nonpermissive (39 degrees C) temperature were examined by immunofluorescence, sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, complement fixation, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. When the cells were confluent and rested at 33 degrees C, and then were shifted to 39 degrees C, the amount of large T antigen per cell decreased, and most cells survived and remained phagocytic. When the cells were proliferating at 33 degrees C, and then were shifted to 39 degrees C, the cells died with only a small reduction in the amount of large T antigen. Therefore, the physiological state of the cells may determine the survival of cells by affecting the level of large T antigen after exposure to 39 degrees. The confluent cells may be rested with a concomitant decrease of large T antigen. The proliferating cells may not survive in the presence of a relatively high level of functionally defective large T antigen at 39 degrees C.