Oncogenicity of the C-type virus HL-23V in marmosets and characterization of virus isolated from an HL-23V-induced marmoset tumor: comparison with simian sarcoma virus type 1.

Dog thymus cells chronically infected with HL-23V, a C-type virus isolated from human acute myelogenous leukemia cells, produced both transforming and nontransforming virus indistinguishable from simian sarcoma virus type 1 (SSV-1/SSAV-1) and induced fibromas in newborn marmosets. All inoculated marmosets developed anti-HL-23V antibodies. A cell line established from a tumor biopsy produced transforming virus identical to SSV-1 and HL-23V at early passages. However, at later passages the cell line and a cell line established from residual tumor tissue removed at autopsy, produced virus which was neutralized only at low dilutions of anti-SSV-1 serum (1:32) relative to SSV-1 (1:1,024). This virus (BFV) was also distinguished from SSV-1 and HL-23V by XC tests, and by membrane immunofluorescence and serum cytotoxicity tests.