Comparison of HSV1 DNA-induced and spontaneous transformation of hamster cells.

Primary cultures of hamster embryo fibroblasts were transfected by purified, fragmented herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) strain A44 DNA in the presence of carrier DNA. Control cultures were transfected with carrier DNA only. A cell line transformed by HSV1 DNA (EH/A44 cell line) was established after serial passages, without senescent crisis. A control cell line (EHT cell line), spontaneously transformed in vitro, was established after a 13th passage crisis. Both cell lines originated from the same primary culture thereby allowing the comparison of virus DNA induced and spontaneous transformation. Various parameters were studies for both cell lines and their clones: cell growth in vitro, presence of viral antigens, permissivity to superinfection and oncogenicity.