Stealth virus culture pigments: a potential source of cellular energy

The cytopathic effect (CPE) induced in human MRC-5 fibroblasts by blood mononuclear cells of patients infected with stealth-adapted viruses is characterized by the formation of clusters of foamy vacuolated cells that commonly become heavily pigmented. The pigmented material coalesces into discrete structures of varying shapes and sizes, including solid particles, flat ribbons, and long, thin threads. Pigmented material can also be observed in long-term culture supernatants, sometimes accompanied by solid and needle-shaped lipid-like crystals. Accumulation of the pigmented material correlates with lessening of the CPE and outgrowth of normal appearing cells from cell clusters. The CPE can be rapidly reactivated by replacing the culture supernatant with fresh culture medium. Conversely, reactivation can be partially prevented by the addition of particulate pigmented material to fresh culture medium. The pigmented material displays striking luminescence and autofluorescence. Occasional particles are ferromagnetic. Varying percentages of different minerals are identifiable in the particles using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Metabolic studies indicate the particles can have reducing (electron donating) capacity and can liberate gas. These findings, along with the extended survival of viable cells in unfed virus-infected cultures, suggest that the pigments are a potential source of cellular energy. The presence of light and magnetic-sensitive alternative cellular energy (ACE) pigments has opened new approaches for the potential therapy of stealth virus-infected patients.