Accumulation of radiolabelled fatty acids in the neutral lipid fraction of measles virus persistently infected BGM cells.

The effect of measles virus infection (acute and persistent) on fatty acid metabolism has been studied in BGM (African green monkey kidney) cells. In persistently infected cells, there was an increase in the incorporation of radiolabelled fatty acids into the neutral lipid fraction. Compared to uninfected cells, the increase was up to 2-fold for palmitic, stearic and oleic acids and 8-14 fold for arachidonic acid. The lipid metabolism in measles virus acutely infected cells was unmodified. The radiolabelled fatty acids incorporated into the neutral lipids in persistently infected cells were principally associated with the triglyceride fraction. The implications of a virus- induced modification of lipid metabolism are discussed.