title: Persistence of BK virus in human foetal pancreas cells.
abstract: High multiplicity BK virus (BKV) infection of primary cells derived from human foetal pancreas resulted in massive cytopathology and subsequent outgrowth of cells. Intranuclear BKV T-antigen was present in all cells and viral antigen was detected in 10 to 30% of these cells. The subcultured cells yielded BKV in the supernatant (approx. 10(5) TCID50/ml) and in the cells free viral DNA was present (approx. 10% of total cellular DNA content). Analysis of the viral DNA indicated the presence of deleted and rearranged BKV DNA molecules. Although all cells continuously expressed BKV T-antigen they did not exhibit the transformed phenotype. This persistent infection of human foetal pancreas cells represents a novel type of in vitro interaction between BKV and human cells which may correspond to the in vivo findings on BKV tropism for pancreatic cells.
mesh_terms: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001739:BK Virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D010179:Pancreas / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology*; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D004279:DNA, Viral