PRESENCE OF INTEGRATED DNA-SEQUENCES OF ADENOASSOCIATED VIRUS TYPE-2 IN 4 CELL-LINES OF HUMAN EMBRYONIC ORIGIN

The human helper virus-dependent parvovirus adeno-associated virus (AA V) has been found in human female genital tissues including material f rom first trimester miscarriage. In the latter case, AAV type 2 (AAV-2 ) DNA and viral proteins were detected mainly in the trophoblast cell layer of placenta. In this report, we present evidence that AAV DNA is also present in established human trophoblast cell lines (JEG-3, JAr, BeWo) and in the human amnion cell line FL, In cells of these lines, AAV-2 DNA could be detected both by PCR and Southern blot analysis, Re striction enzyme analysis indicated that AAV DNA was integrated into t he host cell genome. Although the cell lines supported AAV replication when infected with AAV-2 and adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) as a helper viru s, superinfection with Ad2 alone did not induce replication of AAV DNA , i.e, it failed to rescue AAV from its integrated state. This is prob ably due to rearrangements within the integrated AAV genome, The prese nce of AAV DNA in cells derived from human embryonic tissue corroborat es the suggestion that human embryonic tissue may be one of the target s of AAV infection.