HeLa cells grown continuously in protein-free medium: a novel model for the study of virus replication.
Human carcinoma of the cervix cell line HeLa, adapted to continuous growth in a protein-free chemically defined medium, was used as substrate for the replication of several human pathogenic viruses. Growth characteristics of the cells designated as HeLa-PF in protein-free 1:1 nutrient mixture of Dulbecco's modified MEM and Ham's F-12 supplemented with L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate were similar to those of the cells grown in a serum-supplemented medium. After 30 months (135 subcultures) in the protein-free medium, HeLa-PF cells were infected with poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3; adenovirus types 2 and 5 and herpes simplex virus type 1. Both adenoviruses and polioviruses developed in HeLa-PF cells titers and showed cytopathic effects comparable to those obtained in conventionally grown and maintained cells; in contrast, significantly lower herpes simplex virus type 1 titers and changed characteristics of the cytopathic effects were observed in HeLa-PF cells. The results show that HeLa-PF cells grown continuously in protein-free medium provide a unique system for the study of virus replication.
Cinatl
J
J
Department of Medical Virology, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, FRG.
Cinatl
J
J
Rabenau
H
H
Kornhuber
B
B
Doerr
W H
WH
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division; D003470:Culture Media; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000502:physiology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication
D003470:Culture Media