Simian virus 40-related antigens in three human meningiomas with defined chromosome loss

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Feb;72(2):609-13. doi: 10.1073/pnas.72.2.609.

Abstract

Two out of seven meningiomas tested in early cell cultures by indirect immunofluorescence staining showed simian virus 40 (SV40)-related tumor (T) antigen. In one tumor 90% of the cells were positive. An additional SV40-related antigen (U) was found in 10% of cells of a third tumor. These findings indicate that the meningioma cells showing a positive reaction are transformed by a papova virus that has at least partly the same antigenic properties as SV40 virus. SV40-related viral capsid (V) antigen was absent in all the meningiomas tested. No virus infectious for African green monkey kidney (AGMK) cells could be isolated. The tumors positive for T and U antigens showed the chromosome aberration typical for human meningiomas, i.e., the loss of one chromosome, G-22. The T-antigen-positive tumors showed further hypodiploidization. Experiments to rescue virus from the T-antigen-positive tumors showed further hypodiploidization. Experiments to rescue virus from the T-antigen-positive meningioma cells were performed: fusion of cells pretreated with 8-azaguanine with cells premissive for SV40 led to a low percentage (0.01-0.05%) of V-antigen-positive nuclei in heterokaryon cultures. On the basis of these results, the possibility of a correlation between the meningioma, a relatively common intracranial tumor in man, and an SV40-related papova virus must be considered. It remains to be shown whether this virus is a causative agent for human meningiomas.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / isolation & purification
  • Antigens, Viral / isolation & purification*
  • Cell Line
  • Chromosome Aberrations*
  • Chromosomes, Human, 21-22 and Y*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Karyotyping
  • Kidney
  • Male
  • Meningioma / genetics
  • Meningioma / immunology
  • Meningioma / microbiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mosaicism
  • Simian virus 40 / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Antigens, Viral