title: Growth of B95-8 cells and expression of Epstein-Barr virus lytic phase in serum-free medium.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) cells (B95-8) were selected for growth in medium with reduced serum and then transferred to serum-free medium which consisted of RPMI 1640 supplemented with insulin, transferrin, and selenium. Serum-free cells in continuous passage for 1 year had a morphology, growth rate, and culture density which approached those of B95-8 cells grown with serum. The cells expressed virus-induced antigens, including the EBV-associated DNA polymerase. Cells exposed to EBV-inducing agents, n-butyric acid and phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate, produced transforming virus with titers comparable to those of cultures grown with serum. These findings demonstrate that serum is neither required for the growth of B95-8 cells nor necessary for induction or full expression of the EBV lytic phase in these cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1239.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002455:Cell Division; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D003470:Culture Media; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005312:Fetal Blood; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012452:Saguinus; D014775:Virus Activation; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D003470:Culture Media; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase