Herpesvirus saimiri transformed human T cell lines: a permissive system for human immunodeficiency viruses.
Human peripheral blood T lymphocytes are readily transformed to continuous growth by Herpesvirus saimiri subgroup C strains. The immortalized cells express the phenotype of mature activated T cells and bear either CD4 or CD8 surface markers. Here we report that Herpesvirus saimiri transformed CD4+ cell lines are highly susceptible to infection with human immunodeficiency viruses types 1 and 2. The prototype viruses HIV-1IIIB and HIV-2ROD replicated rapidly and caused cell death within 14 days. These cell lines did also support growth of a poorly replicating HIV-2 strain (HIV-2NEP) and of primary clinical isolates. Thus H. saimiri transformed T cells represent a new system for HIV propagation and isolation, especially for HIV-2 strains with restricted cell tropism. These cells should be considered as an alternative approach in cases where conventional attempts fail.
Institut für Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
S
S
Nick
H
H
Fickenscher
B
B
Biesinger
G
G
Born
G
G
Jahn
B
B
Fleckenstein
D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D006678:HIV / Q000254:growth & development*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000254:growth & development; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000254:growth & development; D006567:Herpesvirus 2, Saimiriine; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D014779:Virus Replication