Comparative Characterization of a C-Type Virus-Producing Cell Line (VSW) and a Virus-Free Cell Line (VH2) From Vipera russelli

Summary

The C-type virus-producing cell line VSW, established from the spleen of a tumor-bearing Russell's viper (Vipera russelli), was compared with cell line VH2 established from the heart of a tumor-free viper. VSW cells rapidly adapted to continuous subculture in vitro, with a stable, small, epithelial-like cell morphology and a stable aneuploid karyotype established by cell passage 10. The VH2 cell line was established more slowly; the emergent cell type was larger and fibroblast-like with a quasidiploid karyotype. Chromosomal abnormalities were common in VSW cells only. Electron microscopy revealed that VSW cells had a higher nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio and a less differentiated cytoplasmic appearance than the apparently more metabolically active VH2 cells. Both cell types grew optimally at an incubation temperature near 30° C, but VH2 cells grew better at suboptimal and supraoptimal temperatures. VH2 cells also had a superior tolerance to growth in the presence of dextran sulfate. VSW cells supported the replication of rabies and vesicular stomatitis viruses more efficiently than did VH2 cells. However vaccinia herpes simplex, pseudorabies, Sendai, and Newcastle's disease viruses replicated in VH2, but net in VSW cells.