INFECTION OF A LEUKEMIC-CELL LINE (K562) BY HEPATITIS-B VIRUS INDUCESCELL-GROWTH INHIBITION

Hepatitis B virus inhibits the in vitro growth of the human leukemic c ell line K562; however, the mechanism of this growth inhibition is not understood. One to 12 days after exposure, viral DNA and RNA were det ected in K562 cells by Southern blot and reverse-transcriptase polymer ase chain reaction analyses. Virus-containing serum that was heat-inac tivated failed to inhibit cell growth and no viral DNA or RNA was dete cted in these cells. In addition, murine monoclonal antibodies directe d to hepatitis B virus surface epitopes neutralized the virus-induced growth inhibition whereas antibodies to hepatitis B virus core epitope s failed to suppress the inhibition. These results indicate that in vi tro infection of K562 cells by hepatitis B virus causes inhibition of hematopoietic cell line growth.