Propagation and titration of murine cytomegalovirus in a continuous bone marrow-derived stromal cell line (M2-10B4).

Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) can only be propagated effectively in mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) cells. We demonstrate that MCMV replicates significantly better in M2-10B4 cells, a continuous line of murine bone marrow stromal cells. M2-10B4 cells were also comparable to MEF cells for detection of small amounts of MCMV reactivating from latently infected spleen explants. M2-10B4 cells will be very useful for studies of MCMV pathogenesis.