Viral carcinogenesis in a pronephric cell line. An ultrastructural study

Area of Science:

• Herpetology
• Virology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• The Lucké renal tumor is a spontaneous neoplasm in Northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens).
• Herpesviruses have been implicated in the etiology of the Lucké renal tumor.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the infectivity of herpesvirus from Lucké renal tumors in a cell line derived from frog pronephroi.
• To characterize the viral and virus-associated structures in infected frog kidney cells.

Main Methods:

• Infection of a Rana pipiens pronephric cell line with herpesvirus from Lucké renal tumors.
• Ultrastructural analysis using electron microscopy to observe viral morphology and cellular changes.

Main Results:

• Observed nuclear inclusions containing herpesvirus capsids, some within nuclear sacs.
• Identified 55-nm and 35-nm virus-associated tubular elements within chromatin and cytoplasm.
• Detected enveloped nucleoid viruses, viral clusters in cytoplasmic vesicles, and filaments in the cytoplasm.

Conclusions:

• The Lucké renal tumor herpesvirus can productively infect and replicate within Rana pipiens pronephric cell lines.
• Ultrastructural analysis confirmed the presence of characteristic viral structures in vitro, mirroring those in vivo.
• This cell culture model provides a valuable system for studying Lucké tumor herpesvirus biology and pathogenesis.