SENSITIVITY OF NCI-H292 HUMAN LUNG MUCOEPIDERMOID CELLS FOR RESPIRATORY AND OTHER HUMAN VIRUSES

NCI-H292 mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells from human lungs were shown in an earlier report to be a fully adequate substitute for primary rhesu s monkey kidney (MK) cells for the isolation and propagation of the hu man paramyxoviruses. Although sensitivity for ortho- and paramyxovirus es was the principal reason for using MK cells, the cells were also se nsitive to many other viruses, which constituted another important val ue of MK cells. That MK cells supported the initial isolation and grow th of so many respiratory viruses made it a mandatory cell type for an y clinical laboratory. We therefore felt it was imperative to evaluate the virus spectrum of NCI-H292 cells, which are being used as a subst itute for MK cells in many laboratories. In the present report, we sho w that NCI-H292 cells are sensitive for vaccinia virus, herpes simplex virus, adenoviruses, BK polyomavirus, reoviruses, measles virus, resp iratory syncytial virus, some strains of influenza virus type A, most enteroviruses, and rhinoviruses, in addition to the parainfluenza and mumps viruses originally reported. Furthermore, these viruses replicat e in NCI-H292 cells to the same virus and antigen titers and at the sa me speed of replication as they do in their usually preferred cells. T he NCI-H292 cells are therefore an excellent substitute for MK cells i n terms of laboratory safety, ease of availability, paramyxovirus isol ation, and broad virus spectrum but cannot substitute for MK cells for the isolation of influenza viruses.