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Bovine polyomavirus, a cell-transforming virus with tumorigenic potential
R Schuurman1, A van Strien, B van Steenis
1Department of Virology, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
The Journal of General Virology
|November 1, 1992
Summary
The bovine polyomavirus (BPyV) early region can transform cells, but only when driven by an external promoter. This suggests BPyV is a potentially tumorigenic virus, with implications for cell culture using calf serum.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Bovine polyomavirus (BPyV) is a virus that infects cattle.
- Polyomaviruses are known to cause tumors in various animal models.
- The early region of polyomaviruses often encodes proteins involved in cell transformation and oncogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cell transformation potential of the early region of bovine polyomavirus (BPyV).
- To determine if BPyV can induce oncogenic transformation in primary rodent cells.
- To assess the implications of BPyV contamination in calf serum for cell culture applications.
Main Methods:
- Transfection of primary rodent cells with plasmid constructs containing the BPyV early region.
- Utilizing a dense focus formation assay to detect morphological cell transformation.
- Analyzing viral sequence integration, large T antigen expression, anchorage-independent growth, and oncogenicity in vivo.
Main Results:
- Dense foci of morphologically transformed cells were observed when the BPyV early region was under Rous sarcoma virus LTR control.
- No transformation occurred when the BPyV early region was under its own regulatory sequences.
- BPyV-transformed cells showed integrated viral DNA, large T antigen expression, anchorage-independent growth, and oncogenicity in rats.
- Commercial calf serum batches were found to be contaminated with BPyV.
Conclusions:
- The early region of BPyV possesses cell transformation potential, contingent on the transcriptional promoter.
- BPyV should be regarded as a potentially tumorigenic polyomavirus.
- BPyV contamination in calf serum necessitates caution in cell culture practices.