B-cell origin of hamster lymphoid tumors induced by simian virus 40.

Two lymphoid neoplasms induced by simian virus 40 (SV40) in Syrian hamsters were analyzed for lymphocyte characteristics. The hymphocytes from both tumors contained membrane-bound Ig that was exclusively of 7Sgamma2 class. Furthermore, neither lymphoid tumor had a complement receptor. Thus both tumors oringinated from a particular B-cell population, which suggests that this B-cell type is associated with an SV40 receptor.