Detection of six main species of viruses in human cell lines

Objective To clarify the virus hosting status of human cell lines. Methods The DNA of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Human pappilomavirus (HPV), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) in 135 human cell lines were checked using PCR, and HCV RNA sequences were checked by RT-PCR. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine the virus particles in cells. The high-risk genotypes of HPV were tested by PCR. Results By PCR assaying, among the 135 human cell lines, four cell lines(Daudi, Raji, EB-3, NCI-BL2009) harbored EBV DNA sequences; two(Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5) harbored HBV DNA sequences; seven (HeLa, HeLa 229, H1HeLa, HeLaS3, SiHa, Caski, CNE-2Z) harbored HPV DNA sequences, including two cell lines (SiHa, Caski) with HPV16, five cell lines(HeLa, HeLa 229, H1HeLa, HeLaS3, CNE-2Z) with HPV18; one cell line(HUT 102) harbored HTLV DNA sequences. No cell line harbored HCV RNA sequences and HIV DNA sequences. No viral particles were observed in the positive cell lines by TEM, but some viral inclusion bodies in certain cell lines. Conclusions The virus hosting status of human cell lines can be checked by PCR or RT-PCR. The viral DNA sequences were integrated in the cellular genome. Key words: Cell lines; Virus; Polymerase chain reaction; Electron microscopy