Persistent Infection of a Lymphoma Cell Line by Herpes Simplex Virus

The peripheral blood celts from a patient with a B-cell lymphoma were established in long-term tissue culture. Two years after establishment of the cells in culture they were infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 and the productivity and duration of viral persistence investigated. One week after infection the lymphoblastoid cells were productively infected and have remained so for a period of over 3 years. Expression of a viral glycoprotein antigen was evaluated by using a fluorescein-labeled monoclona antiherpes simplex virus type 2 antibody and revealed a spectrum of staining reactions grading from a lightly stippled to very intense pattern. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the infected cells revealed the presence of the herpes simplex virus type 2 DNA poiymerase gene in the infected cells that was absent from the uninfected lymphoblastoid cells. These results taken together with the long-term growth characteristics of both the infected and uninfected lymphoblastoid cells suggest that this cell liAne may be a good model system for studying viral infection, viral replication, viral latency, and clinical application for the isolation of human herpes virus. Am. J. Hematol.