Neoplastic transformation of rat embryo cells with herpes simplex virus

Sprague Dawley rat embryo cells (REF) were transformed by inoculation with herpes simplex virus (HSV) and incubation at 42 degrees C for 8 days. The infected cultures were subsequently returned to 37 degrees C and two types of cell clone were isolated from foci of growing cells after 4 weeks. One of the clones consisted of epithelial-like cells and did not produce HSV (REF-Tep-NP). The second consisted of spindle-shaped cells and cultures of these cells persistently developed small areas of degeneration where production of infectious HSV (REF-Tsp-P) took place. An additional clone which did not produce any more HSV (REF-Tsp-NP) was isolated from REF-Tsp-P in the presence of HSV-antiserum. REF-Tsp-P and REF-Tsp-NP grew more rapidly than REF and also formed foci in soft agar. REF-Tep-NP had a growth rate between that of normal rat embryo cells and that of both REF-Tsp-NP and REF-Tsp-P and did not form foci in soft agar. REF-Tsp-NP cells, in contrast to REF-Tep-NP cells, were resistant to superinfection with HSV types 1 and 2. REF-Tsp-P and REF-Tsp-NP produced metastasizing sarcomas in rats. After inoculation of 10(3) REF-Tsp-NP cells into 1-day-old rats tumours developed rapidly. REF-Tep-NP cells did not induce tumours in rats. The parental REF cells produced no tumours, even when 10(8) cells were inoculated into the rats. Positive immunofluorescence was observed in all three transformed cells only with the hyperimmune rabbit sera but not with human anti-HSV reconvalescence immune sera.