[Establishment and characterization of ATLV-producing cell lines].

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from a Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) were co-cultivated with lethally irradiated MT-2 cells that carry abundant type C virus particles (ATLV) isolated from a patient with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). After six weeks, a lymphoid cell line designated Si-1 was established from the simian lymphocytes. The Si-1 line was E-, SIg-, Leu-1-, OKI1+, EBNA-, ATLA+ and ATLV+. Co-cultivation of peripheral blood lymphocytes from three anti-ATLA positive and two negative healthy adults resulted in the establishment of three lymphoid cell lines derived either from an anti-ATLA positive donor or both donors. All three cell lines were E+, SIg-, Leu-1+, OKI1+, EBNA-, ATLA+ and ATLV+. This mixed lymphocyte culture technique provides a simple means for the isolation of ATLV from healthy ATLV carriers.