[Study of human diploid cell strains for the presence of oncornavirus determinants]

The WI-38 strain of human diploid cells (HDC) and two strains, L-58 and L-63 isolated in Moscow Research Institute of Virus Preparations were examined in the course of sequential passages for the presence of primate oncornaviruses and their antigens. In parallel, the tumorigenic capacity of the cells was tested by inoculating them into the cheek pouch tissue of Syrian hamsters. In all cases the examined HDC cultures contained no oncornavirus particles or their antigens and in no case showed any infectious activity determined in the KC-test. Only on one subculture of the L-63 strain cells at the 44th passage was a positive result obtained in immunoprecipitation test with antiserum to the LPV oncornavirus. Cells of the L-58 strain which had undergone 27 and 43 passages showed tumorigenicity in hamster experiments. In subsequent passages of these HDC strains no such properties were found. The regular control for the absence of oncogenic message is a necessary condition for the use of HDC strains in virological practice.