An epithelial cell line with chronic polyoma infection established from a spontaneous mouse pancreatic adenocarcinoma

The establishment of an epithelial cell line from a mouse pancreatic adenocarcinoma is described. The cell line, designated LTPA, was aneuploid and exhibited many transformed growth properties (rapid growth rate, failure to show density-dependent inhibition of growth, ability to grow in defined medium). A type C oncornavirus was isolated from the culture medium, and electron microscopy also revealed the presence of intracisternal type A particles. LTPA cells carried a persistent polyoma infection which produced only low levels of cytopathic effects. A mycoplasmal contamination was also carried. When injected s.c. into Swiss nu/nu mice, LTPA cells formed ductular structures which were destroyed by inflammatory reactions within 3 weeks.