Rodent and primate monolayer cells support the expression and assembly of viral particles directed by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) proviral DNA.

A molecular clone of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was transferred to rodent and primate monolayer cells by DNA transfection. Of the cell lines tested, all of them released viral particles as shown by reverse transcriptase assay and dot-blot hybridization. The viruses released from transfected cultures were able to establish infection of human T-cell line HUT 78. These results suggest that factors present in cells of non-lymphoid origin support the expression and assembly of HIV. Thus, transfection with cloned HIV DNA provides an approach to analyse the consequences of viral gene expression in cell types which lack a mechanism for efficient uptake of HIV particles.