Immortalization of human Lesch-Nyhan-fibroblasts following infection with Simian virus 40.

Skin fibroblasts of three Lesch-Nyhan patients were successfully transformed to unrestricted growth by Simian virus 40. The transformed character of isolated clones was confirmed by their epitheloid growth in medium containing low concentration of serum, by hyperdiploid karyotype patterns, by detection of SV40 T-antigen, by their growth in soft agar and by the proliferation of cells in vitro up to 200 passages hitherto.