Induction of syncytia by simian sarcoma virus type I (SSV-I/SSAV-I) in several human transformed cell lines.

Simian sarcoma virus type I (SSV-I/SSAV-I) induced syncytia formation in human cells derived from malignant tumors (KB, HEp-2 and HeLa cells) and human cells transformed by tumor viruses (RSa, RSb and KC cells) as well as rat XC cells. However, SSV-I/SSAV-I did not induce syncytia formation in human cells derived from normal embryos (WI-38, HEL and HEC). Syncytia-inducing activity of SSV-I/SSAV-I was neutralized by anti-SSV-I/SSAV-I serum, indicating that syncytia formation was SSV-I/SSAV-I mediated.