Virus specific antigens in BK virus-transformed cells detected by cell-mediated immune reactions.

Mouse cell lines transformed by BK virus (BKV) were used for immunizations and as targets in the 51Cr release assay to detect BKV specific cell surface antigens. When BKV-transformed cells from C57BL/6J mice were used to immunize syngeneic animals and the effector cells were stimulated in vitro, cytotoxic lymphocytes were generated which lysed syngeneic BKV-transformed cells but not control cells transformed by UV irradiation or 3-methylcholanthrene. The reaction was apparently H-2-restricted. A cross reaction was observed between cell lines transformed by BKV or SV40. The BKV specific antigen detected by the cell-mediated immune reaction presumably corresponds to the tumour specific transplantation antigen previously detected in BKV-transformed cells.