Cytogenetic analysis of cell lines derived from Marek's disease virus
(MDV)-induced local lesions was performed to detect the presence of a
chromosomal alteration found previously in eel lines derived from MDV-
induced visceral tumors. This chromosomal alteration involves an ampli
fied region on the short arm of chromosome 1. Trypsin G-banding was pe
rformed on 12 local-lesion cell lines having various T-cell receptor p
henotypes. Eight of 12 cell lines had a diploid female karyotype, and
four lines were diploid males. Ten of the cell lines showed a normal G
-banding pattern; two lines, however, had the short arm amplification
on chromosome 1 (1p+). Thus, the 1p+ alteration does not appear to be
necessary for establishment of cell lines from local lesions. The occu
rrence of the 1p+ alteration in Marek's disease cell lines suggests a
possible role for this alteration in late stages of multi-step viral o
ncogenesis.