Fong C K, Yang-Feng T L, Lerner-Tung M B
Virology Reference Laboratory, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Haven, CT, USA.
Clin Diagn Virol. 1994 Apr;2(2):95-103. doi: 10.1016/0928-0197(94)90042-6.
The McCoy cell line originally derived from human synovial fluid in 1955, has been later found useful for cultivation of Chlamydia trachomatis. This cell line has been subcultured and exchanged between laboratories for many years. In recent years, the McCoy cell line has been widely used in many clinical diagnostic laboratories and has been supplied through commercial companies for the isolation and identification of Chlamydia trachomatis from clinical specimens.
Since retrovirus-like particles have been observed in McCoy cells and the species of origin of the currently used cell line has not been adequately documented, further characterization of McCoy cell line obtained from commercial sources was carried out.
This study includes karyotypes analysis using G-banding for the confirmation of species origin of McCoy cells, electron microscopy for examination of virus particles associated with the cells and biochemical assay for reverse transcriptase activity for detection of retrovirus.
Our results showed by karyotype analysis that McCoy cells are of mouse origin. Electron microscopic examination revealed the presence of endogenous retrovirus type-A and type-C virions. Biochemical assays of culture supernatant fluids from McCoy cells detected reverse transcriptase activity which required Mg(2+) ions.
The present study has confirmed that McCoy cells currently used by many laboratories are mouse cells, not the original McCoy cells derived from human cells. Laboratory workers should be aware of the presence of endogenous murine retrovirus in this cell line and appropriate precautions should be taken.
McCoy细胞系最初于1955年从人滑膜液中分离得到，后来发现其对沙眼衣原体的培养很有用。该细胞系已在多个实验室传代培养并交换多年。近年来，McCoy细胞系已在许多临床诊断实验室中广泛使用，并通过商业公司供应，用于从临床标本中分离和鉴定沙眼衣原体。
由于在McCoy细胞中观察到了逆转录病毒样颗粒，且目前使用的细胞系的来源物种尚无充分记录，因此对从商业来源获得的McCoy细胞系进行了进一步鉴定。
本研究包括使用G显带进行核型分析以确认McCoy细胞的物种来源，使用电子显微镜检查与细胞相关的病毒颗粒，以及使用生化分析法检测逆转录酶活性以检测逆转录病毒。
我们的核型分析结果表明，McCoy细胞来源于小鼠。电子显微镜检查发现存在A型和C型内源性逆转录病毒颗粒。对McCoy细胞培养上清液进行的生化分析检测到了需要镁离子的逆转录酶活性。
本研究证实，许多实验室目前使用的McCoy细胞是小鼠细胞，而非源自人细胞的原始McCoy细胞。实验室工作人员应意识到该细胞系中存在内源性鼠逆转录病毒，并应采取适当的预防措施。
