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.