Herpesvirus saimiri strain 11 immortalizes a restricted marmoset T8 lymphocyte subpopulation in vitro.

Abstract

Herpesvirus saimiri induces a fatal lymphoproliferative syndrome in a variety of New World primate species. We now show that cell lines derived from PBL of the common marmoset by in vitro-immortalization with H. saimiri strain 11 represent a remarkably restricted lymphocyte population. These cell lines have NK cell function, phenotypically express both suppressor/cytotoxic (T8) and NK cell (NKH1)-associated antigens, and express a T cell receptor. This subpopulation of lymphocytes is a very minor population of cells in the peripheral blood of common marmosets (less than or equal to 3%). The specificity in the interaction between H. saimiri strain 11 and a subpopulation of common marmoset lymphocytes represents an example of a restricted viral lymphotropism and may have important implications for the disease induced by this virus in New World monkeys.

Persistence of Selectable Herpesvirus Saimiri in Various Human Haematopoietic and Epithelial Cell Lines

“…It is capable of long-term persistence in T lymphocytes of its natural host, and infection of some other New World primate lymphocytes with selected virus strains results in the immortalization of T cells (Schirm et al, 1984;Szomolani et al, 1987) with the CD8 + phenotype Kiyotaki et al, 1986). Immortalized cells harbour persisting, circular viral genomes in high copy number (Kaschka-Dierich et al, 1982).…”

Herpesvirus saimiri small RNA and interleukin-4 mRNA AUUUA repeats compete for sequence-specific factors including a novel 70K protein

“…In monkeys and rabbits the virus transforms CD8 + lymphocytes (Kiyotaki et al, 1986) and causes malignant lymphoproliferations (Daniel et al, 1974;Melendez et al, 1969). Several data indicate that lymphokine and growth factor upregulation is involved in the process and mediate autocrine cell growth (Medveczky & Medveczky, 1989).…”

Expression of Interleukin 2 Receptors in T Cells Transformed by Strains of <i>Herpesvirus saimiri</i> Representing Three DNA Subgroups

“…The rapid develop ment of the disease suggests that H. saimiri simultaneously transforms several cells and causes a polyclonal acute lymphoproliféra tion. Both in vivo and in vitro transformed cells are T lymphocytes of the CD-8 class [4][5][6].…”