BIOLOGY OF SIMIAN-VIRUS-40 (SV40) TRANSPLANTATION-ANTIGEN (TRAG) .5. INVITRO DEMONSTRATION OF SV40 TRAG IN SV40 INFECTED NON-PERMISSIVE MOUSE CELLS BY THE LYMPHOCYTE MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY ASSAY

The development of SV40-specific transplantation antigen (TrAg) on the surface of nonpermissive mouse cells infected with SV40 was demonstrated using a sensitive in vitro lymphocyte mediated cytotoxicity assay. The in vitro lymphocyte mediated 51Cr release assay was shown to be specific for the detection of SV40 TrAg. SV40 TrAg was detected 24 hr after infection of mouse cells with SV40 and high levels of TrAg expression persisted for as long as 96 to 120 hr after virus infection. The development of TrAg on the surface of SV40-infected mouse cells correlated with the synthesis of tumor or T antigen in the nucleus of infected cells. The synthesis and the expression of TrAg at the surface of SV40-infected mouse cells may be an important step in the development of immunological resistance of the cell mediated type in an SV40-inoculated host leading to the elimination of stably transformed cells. © 1979.