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Inhibition of Replication of Virus-transformed Fibroblasts by Antibodies to RNA¹

Department of Microbiology, University of Torino, Torino 10126, Italy

The activity of 7S immunoglobulins (Ig) antibody to RNA, obtained in rabbits after a prolonged immunization with RNA-methylated bovine serum albumin complex was evaluated in vitro on normal (3T3) and simian virus 40-transformed (SV 3T3) mouse fibroblasts. The presence of anti-RNA antibody in the culture medium inhibited both the SV 3T3 cell proliferation and the [³H]thymidine incorporation. In contrast, an increased [³H]uridine incorporation was evident within 48 and 96 hr of culture. No significant modification in these 3 parameters was observed in 3T3 cultures treated in the same manner. Both 3T3 and SV 3T3 showed cytoplasmic fluorescence when cultured in the presence of fluoresceinated anti-RNA Ig. However, with the indirect fluorescence technique anti-RNA Ig were detected in SV 3T3 cytoplasm only. These data suggest that anti-RNA Ig were taken up by both 3T3 and SV 3T3, but only in SV 3T3 did the anti-RNA Ig retain their antigenic properties and block cellular proliferation.

¹ This work was supported by a research contract with the Italian National Research Council (C.N.R.).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed. Present address: Instituto di Microbiologia, Via Santena 9, 10126 Torino, Italy.

Received 5/20/75. Accepted 8/ 5/75.