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Updated: May 24, 2026
In Vitro Establishment of a Genetically Engineered Murine Head and Neck Cancer Cell Line using an Adeno-Associated Virus-Cas9 System
Published on: January 9, 2020
The human lung adenocarcinoma cell line EKVX produces an infectious xenotropic murine leukemia virus
Joan L Cmarik1, Jami A Troxler, Charlotte A Hanson
1Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. cmarikj@mail.nih.gov
Abstract:
The cell lines of the NCI-60 panel represent different cancer types and have been widely utilized for drug screening and molecular target identification. Screening these cell lines for envelope proteins or gene sequences related to xenotropic murine leukemia viruses (X-MLVs) revealed that one cell line, EKVX, was a candidate for production of an infectious gammaretrovirus. The presence of a retrovirus infectious to human cells was confirmed by the cell-free transmission of infection to the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. Amplification and sequencing of additional proviral sequences from EKVX confirmed a high degree of similarity to X-MLV. The cell line EKVX was established following passage of the original tumor cells through nude mice, providing a possible source of the X-MLV found in the EKVX cells.
Insights
The EKVX cell line, part of the NCI-60 panel, was found to produce an infectious gammaretrovirus similar to xenotropic murine leukemia viruses (X-MLVs). This retrovirus can infect human cells, with its origin possibly linked to the cell line
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cancer Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The NCI-60 cell line panel is crucial for cancer research, including drug screening and target identification.
- Understanding viral contamination in cell lines is vital for research integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen NCI-60 cell lines for xenotropic murine leukemia virus (X-MLV) related sequences.
- To investigate the potential of the EKVX cell line as a source of infectious gammaretroviruses.
Main Methods:
- Screening of NCI-60 cell lines for X-MLV envelope proteins and gene sequences.
- Cell-free transmission assays to confirm retroviral infectivity.
- Amplification and sequencing of proviral DNA from EKVX cells.
Main Results:
- The EKVX cell line was identified as a candidate for producing infectious gammaretroviruses.
- Cell-free transmission successfully infected the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP.
- Sequencing confirmed high similarity between the EKVX retrovirus and X-MLV.
Conclusions:
- The EKVX cell line harbors and produces an infectious gammaretrovirus closely related to X-MLV.
- The passage of tumor cells through nude mice may be the source of X-MLV contamination in EKVX cells.
- This finding has implications for the use of EKVX and potentially other cell lines in research.
