Influence of different culture conditions on BLV expression in permanently infected FLK cell lines

The permanently BLV-infected FLK cell line 44/2 and FLK sublines were tested for the stability of their BLV and antigen synthesis by three virus markers, p24, gp51, and activity of reverse transcriptase. The extent of BLV production in the FLK line correlated directly with the surface for cell growth in roller and stationary cultures. The synthesis and secretion of non-virus-associated gp51 is especially stimulated in the roller culture, and is largely independent of the quality of the culture medium. The roller culture allows considerable economy of the medium, at the same time retaining its full biological activity. As much as 2 mg of gp51 per litre of culture supernatant was obtained by this procedure. Appropriate markers for estimation of BLV production are p24 and gp51. For this purpose, the activity of reverse transcriptase on its own was not sufficient. The BLV yield differed by one order of magnitude among the 18 cloned FLK sublines. Three sublines have been identified, which showed a comparatively high virus production, under conditions of stationary cultures. The amount or activity of viral markers could not be correlated with the number of BLV proviruses.