Increase in the saturation of C18 fatty acids induced by coxsackie B6 virus in vero cells

There is an increase in the saturated 18-carbon fatty acid (C18FA) in Vero cells infected with Coxsackie B6 virus. The increase is reversible with a peak at 4 hr postinfection, and is proportional to virus input (m.o.i.). The appearance of the cytopathic effect (CPE) is coincidental with the increase in the saturation of C18FA, and is also related to increase in cell leakiness as measured by 15Cr release. Replacement of the overlay medium with fresh medium results in a further twofold increase in saturated C18FA. The overlay medium of the infected cells contains a factor which, in uninfected cells, produced an increase in unsaturated C18FA. The causal relationship of the changes in the saturation of the C18FA and the CPE and cell lysis is discussed.