LLC-MK2 Kidney Cells (LLC-MK2)

LLC-MK2 Original is a cell line exhibiting epithelial morphology that was isolated from the kidney of an adult monkey. This cell line was deposited by RN Hull. The cell has virus susceptibility to bovine viral diarrhea virus 1, human poliovirus 1, and human coxsackievirus B4.

The establishment of two strains of rhesus monkey kidney cells in continuous tissue culture, the development of a subline adapted to chemically defined medium, and the isolation of several clonal derivatives were described. Growth characteristics, chromosome numbers, malignant potentiality, and freeze storage data are presented. The cells were studied for their sensitivity to a large number of viruses and were extensively compared with primary cultures of monkey kidney cells for sensitivity to poliovirus. The cell strains were not sensitive to all the viruses which could be grown in primary cultures of the same tissue but were susceptible to most of them. In some instances an advantage to the use of the cell strain for certain viruses was noted.