Growth of JC virus in adult human brain cell cultures.

Adult human brain (AHB) cells infected with JC virus (JCV) developed a cytopathic effect (CPE) beginning 12--14 days after infection. Ultrastructurally, 37--40 nm papova virions were seen in the nuclei of infected cells, and both T and V antigen were demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. The hemagglutinating titer of JCV in infected AHB cells was 10--40 times higher than the amount of JCV used to initiate infection. AHB cells are more readily available than primary human fetal brain cells, they can be subcultured 15--25 times in vitro and they support JCV replication after multiple subcultivations. These properties make the AHB cell line useful for propagating JCV.