PROPERTIES OF SYRIAN-HAMSTER CELLS TRANSFORMED BY HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-16

Adult Syrian hamster kidney cells were transfected with a mixture of p lasmids containing human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E6/E7 open rea ding frames (ORFs), activated Ha-ras gene and neomycin resistence gene . From these cultures two lines were isolated which were oncogenic for newborn and 5-day-old but not for 3-week-old hamsters. Sublines oncog enic for 3-7-week-old hamsters were derived from tumours formed in ani mals inoculated within 5 days of birth. The cells contained HPV16 DNA in an integrated form and HPV16 transcripts. The transcript patterns i n low and high oncogenicity sublines were different. Very few tumour-b earing animals possessed antibodies reactive with E6- and E7-derived s ynthetic peptides. On the other hand, a majority of these animals gave a positive reaction in the lymphoproliferation assay with either E6 a nd E7 peptides or extracts from the transformed cells.