Heterochromatinic segments in chromosomes of cultured human cells, sensitive and resistant to Coxsackie B viruses

Comparative karyological studies of C-heterochromatin have been made on line J-96 of human cells, which are susceptible to enteroviruses, and on cell line J-41 derived from this culture and possessing highly specific resistance to Coxsackie B viruses. It was shown that the development of specific resistance to Coxsackie B viruses was accompanied by the loss of one of the chromosomes of pairs 1 and 9, and by the dissapearance of two marker chromosomes. There appeared new marker chromosomes with additional C-heterochromatain regions. The data obtained are discussed with respect to a possible interrelationship between these chromosomal alterations and the specific resistance to Coxsakie B viruses.