In vitro infection of cell lines with HTLV-I and SIVmac results in altered intracellular free calcium concentration and increased membrane polarization.
This study was designed to determine whether retrovirus infection alters basal concentrations of intracellular free calcium, the magnitude of intracellular free calcium change upon receptor-mediated cell-stimulation, and cell membrane polarization. Two retrovirus-infected cell lines were utilized: HTLV-I-infected MT-2 cells and SIV-infected H-9 cells. Uninfected H-9 cells were used as controls. The results show that the retrovirally-infected cells had an increased basal concentration of intracellular free calcium when compared with the control cells and also a reduced magnitude of intracellular free calcium response to receptor-mediated cell stimulants. The retrovirally-infected cell membranes were also hyperpolarized when compared with the control cells.