Influence of culture conditions of growth of FL-74 cells and feline oncornavirus cell membrane associated antigen production.

The FL-74 cell, a feline lymphoblastoid cell line derived from a tumor induced by leukemia virus, grows equally well in static suspension culture (plastic T-flask or silicone treated glass bottles) or in spinner culture. No growth was observed in unsiliconized glass bottles. Although feline leukemia virus production was nearly the same in FL-74 grown in each of the above types of vessel, the expression of the feline oncornavirus membrane associated antigen (FOCMA), as determined by membrane immunofluorescence, was more intense and more complete on cells grown in static suspension. Moreover, higher fluorescent antibody titer endpoints were observed with cells from static suspension cultures than with cells from spinner cultures, FL-74 cells grown in spinner culture, when subjected to partial synchrony by cold block or by deprivation of essential amino acids (arginine and/or isoleucine) for 12 hr, achieved a membrane fluorescent pattern for FOCMA similar to cells grown in static suspension. It is proposed that the expression of FOCMA on the cell membrane surface is cell-cycle dependent, and that the rate at which a cell passes through the cell cycle determines the pattern and intensity of the fluorescence of the cell membrane.