[Particles with retrovirus appearance and reverse transcriptase activity in cell cultures derived from lymph node biopsies in Hodgkin's disease].

: Long term cultures of Reed-Sternberg like cells were obtained from lymph node biopsies of two patients suffering from Hodgkin's disease. As soon as the 15th day of culture, a weak magnesium-dependent reverse transcriptase activity was observed in the cell culture supernatants. Retroviral-like particles were observed in cell cultures as well as in their supernatants.