Human polyomavirus BK (BKV) transiently transforms and persistently infects cultured osteosarcoma cells.
Human polyomavirus BK (BKV) DNA and proteins have been detected in a number of bone tumours. We therefore investigated whether BKV infection might initiate transformation of human anchorage-dependent osteosarcoma cells in vitro. Infection of the osteosarcoma cell line U-2OS with a naturally occurring BKV strain resulted in soft agarose competent cell clones. In a subclone, designated U-2OS15E, approximately 10-20% of the cells contained episomal BKV genomes. A corresponding proportion of cells expressed BKV proteins and produced viral progeny. This proportion was not increased by BKV superinfection. Furthermore, U-2OS15E cells were resistant to SV40 infection. The transformed status of U-2OS15E cells lasted only for a few passages. However, the persistently infected cells produced infectious virions for more than 300 generations. In addition to representing a model system for persistent BKV infection, the uninfected and persistently BKV-infected cell cultures are useful tools for control and calibration of in situ BKV nucleic acid and protein detection methods.
Rinaldo
Christine Hanssen
CH
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Virology, University of Tromsø, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway.
Myhre
Marit Renée
MR
Alstad
Hilde
H
Nilssen
Øivind
Ø
Traavik
Terje
T
D000818:Animals; D001739:BK Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014709:Vero Cells
D004279:DNA, Viral