Search

Mice vaccinated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ag38 gene-transduced B16 melanoma cells showed significant protection from intravenous challenge with parental B16 melanoma cells. No cytotoxic T-cell activity was found against melanoma cells, although the endogenous presence of the mycobacterial gene induced a preferential Th1 response. After immunization, a low serological response against melanoma cells was detected, while a high titer of antibodies directed to parental B16 cells, mainly of IgG2(a) isotype, was found in protected mice after challenge. These antibodies exhibited complement-dependent cytotoxicity against melanoma cells in vitro, while in vivo, used in passive immunization, they induced a decrease in a number of experimental B16 lung metastases. Most of the antibodies were directed against endogenous murine leukemia viruses. No reactivity against melanocyte lineage-specific antigens was observed. In particular, no reactivity was found in sera from protected mice against tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2), either stably expressed in a non-melanoma cell line or obtained by in vitro transcription-translation, or against tyrosinase, TRP-1 and gp100 antigens immunoprecipitated from B16 cells. Thus, in the B16 murine model, the presence of dominant viral antigens induces a very strong humoral response that might be protective and may inhibit or mask the presence of minor clonotypes., (Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Recognition of virus-infected or transformed cells by CD8+ CTL requires a trimolecular complex composed of MHC class I, beta2-microglobulin, and a specific foreign peptide composed of 8 to 10 linear amino acids. The generation of such CTL epitopes has traditionally been thought to be from the primary open reading frame encoding the viral or tumor-associated proteins. In this report it is demonstrated that a viral CTL epitope can also be generated from an alternative reading frame. Using a combination of synthetic peptides and Sindbis or vaccinia expression systems, MHC class I Kd-restricted BALB/cByJ CTL directed against defective gag gene constructs of the LP-BM5 virus complex that causes murine AIDS were shown to have specificity for the antigenic peptide SYNTGRFPPL. This epitope is generated in a novel fashion from the second open reading frame (ORF2) of both the defective and ecotropic helper virus components of LP-BM5. Importantly, lysis of target cells expressing BM5 ecotropic helper, and/or defective viral gag, demonstrated that the SYNTGRFPPL epitope is generated during the course of a normal retroviral infection. Furthermore, MAIDS-resistant BALB/cByJ mice also generated secondary restimulated CTL specific for SYNTGRFPPL following in vivo priming with the LP-BM5 retroviral complex. These data suggest that retroviruses, and potentially other viruses and foreign genes, are capable of expressing T cell epitopes from alternative open reading frames. If one considers the influence of self peptides on T cell development, these "alternative reading frame-derived" peptides could provide an important additional influence on the functional T cell repertoire.

An emv-14-derived, replication-competent ecotropic murine leukemia virus [MuLV], designated AK7, was previously cloned from the AKXL-5 recombinant inbred mouse strain and partially characterized. While genetically encoding for an envelope-derived immunodominant CTL epitope [KSPWFTTL] located in the transmembrane region of p15TM, this virus, unlike the emv-11-derived virus AKR623, fails to be efficiently recognized by AKR/Gross MuLV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes [CTL]. AK7 thus provides the opportunity to study the role of retroviral sequence variations that are located outside of the immunodominant epitope as a mechanism of escape from CTL-mediated immune surveillance. In an attempt to identify which region[s] of the AK7 genome could account for its ability to evade efficient recognition by AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL, we have constructed recombinant murine retroviruses. The direct influence of a sequence variation twelve amino acids N-terminal to KSPWFTTL was explored with the use of chimeric viruses and determined not to significantly impair the presentation of KSPWFTTL to AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL. The long terminal repeat [LTR] derived from the AK7 virus, which possesses only one copy of the 99-base pair transcriptional enhancer in the U3 region, in contrast to AKR623 that possesses two copies of the tandem direct repeat enhancers, was also analyzed for its influence on the presentation of KSPWFTTL. Interestingly, our data indicate that the enhancer region derived from AK7 negatively influences the presentation of KSPWFTTL in the context of a recombinant AKR623 virus.

The immunogenic Friend-Moloney-Rauscher (FMR) virus-induced tumors have been used extensively to clarify the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for tumor rejection and to develop immunotherapeutic strategies. We characterize here the trimolecular complex MHC class I-antigenic determinant-T cell receptor involved in the induction of a protective CTL response against the RMA thymoma. This complex is mainly composed by the D(b) molecule interacting with a Rauscher virus antigen (Ag) determinant and the Vbeta5+ T cell receptor. We also show that the chemically induced EL-4 thymoma acquires the susceptibility to recognition by anti-RMA CTLs and the ability to elicit a protective anti-RMA CTL response only upon infection by a virus of the FMR family and that RMA and FMR virus infected EL-4 cells share tumor-associated Ag. The data strongly support the hypothesis that the high immunogenicity of virus-induced or infected tumors is determined by the expression of immunodominant virus-encoded Ag. The demonstration of a different outcome in the immune responses elicited in the presence or in the absence of viral Ag further open the contention of the molecular requirements for immunogenicity and should stimulate a more careful revision of unexpected cross-reactivity among tumors.

Immune activation in murine AIDS (MAIDS) has been suggested to involve a superantigen (SAG). The possibility that SAGs encoded by mammary tumor virus (MTV) might be the source of stimulation was studied by using Mtv mice. Mtv- mice developed typical MAIDS, excluding a requirement for Mtv-encoded SAGs in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Tumors express peptide antigens capable of being recognized by tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Immunization of mice with a carcinogen-induced colorectal tumor, CT26, engineered to secrete granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor, routinely generated both short-term and long-term CTL lines that not only lysed the parental tumor in vitro, but also cured mice of established tumor following adoptive transfer in vivo. When either short-term or long-term CTL lines were used to screen peptides isolated from CT26, one reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography peptide fraction consistently sensitized a surrogate target for specific lysis. The bioactivity remained localized within one fraction following multiple purification procedures, indicating that virtually all of the CT26-specific CTL recognized a single peptide. This result contrasts with other tumor systems, where multiple bioactive peptide fractions have been detected. The bioactive peptide was identified as a nonmutated nonamer derived from the envelope protein (gp70) of an endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia provirus. Adoptive transfer with CTL lines specific for this antigen demonstrated that this epitope represents a potent tumor rejection antigen. The selective expression of this antigen in multiple non-viral-induced tumors provides evidence for a unique class of shared immunodominant tumor associated antigens as targets for antitumor immunity.

A murine acquired immunodeficiency (MAIDS) virus transformed B cell line, B6-1710, was shown to express superantigen activity and stimulate T cell hybridomas to produce IL-2. However, T cell clones and lines from which B6-1710 reactive hybridomas were established failed to proliferate upon stimulation with B6-1710, while B6-1710 cells were capable of presenting bacterial superantigen to stimulate both T cell hybridomas and clones. Proliferative response of T cells to MAIDS virus superantigen could be detected by the addition of the pharmacological agent phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Thus, B6-1710 seems to lack a stimulatory activity necessary for the proliferative response of T cells to the MAIDS viral superantigen. In the analysis of the response of naive splenic T cells to the MAIDS superantigen, T cells recovered from a culture stimulated with B6-1710 cells in the presence of PMA showed no dominant TCR V beta chain usage, while cells recovered from a culture stimulated with B6-1710 alone were dominated by T cells expressing V beta 5, 11, and 12 TCR chains. These results suggest that T cells bearing a majority of TCR V beta chains are capable of responding to B6-1710 superantigen. The avidity of interaction between T cells and viral superantigen may differ significantly among T cells and those T cells exhibiting weak interaction with MAIDS virus superantigen may require additional signals, such as PMA, for an in vitro proliferative response to B6-1710 cells.

A B cell line, B6-1710, expressing murine AIDS virus superantigen stimulates T cell hybridomas derived from a Ld-specific CTL clone to produce IL-2 regardless of their CD4/CD8 phenotype. However, B6-1710 cell did not stimulate the original CTL clone, L3, in either proliferation or cytolytic assays. Both B6-1710 and Ld+ P815 cells stimulated a significant Ca2+ influx in the T cell hybridomas. In contrast, only P815 stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of a 19-kDa protein in the T cell hybridoma. The addition of the nonspecific protein kinase C activator PMA restored the proliferative response of L3 cells to B6-1710. PMA did not induce the lysis of B6-1710 cells by L3. These results suggest that murine AIDS virus encoded superantigen elicits a TCR-mediated signal different from that caused by nominal Ag. This different signaling by viral superantigen may be important for the development of viral pathogenesis in vivo.

T cell recognition of viral superantigens has been postulated to contribute to the pathogenesis of the immunodeficiency disease induced in mice by infection with the LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus complex. A candidate superantigen has been identified in the B cell lymphoma line B6-1710 derived from an LP-BM5-infected C57BL/6 (H-2b) mouse. We have asked whether the stimulatory activity expressed by B6-1710 behaves as a superantigen by assessing the ability of T cells from fully allogeneic H-2b-->H-2d SCID chimeric mice to respond to the line. T cells from allochimeric mice failed to respond to B6-1710, whereas they responded normally to Staphylococcus enterotoxin B, a well characterized superantigen. Despite this finding, allochimeric mice were fully susceptible to the immune deficiency disease induced by LP-BM5 virus infection. These findings show that the role of superantigen expression in retrovirus-induced immune deficiency disease remains to be defined.

Unfertilized human oocytes expressed a gp70-related epitope as observed when staining section immunocytochemically with a panel of monoclonal antibodies against gp70 of murine leukemia virus. Some oocytes also expressed virus-like particles at the cell membrane. Follicular fluids, corresponding to these oocytes, contained p30- and gp70-related antigens, reverse transcriptase, and an increased titer of interferon. The three- to four-cell human cleavage stages did not contain the gp70-related epitope. It is concluded that human oocytes, but not early cleavage stages, express products that suggest the presence of an active endogenous retrovirus genome.

A B cell line, B6-1710, that expresses the defective virus known to induce murine AIDS stimulates a large fraction of nonprimed splenic T cells. Analysis of the T cell population responding to the B6-1710 for TCR V beta-chain usage revealed that, in addition to the previously reported V beta 5-chain-positive T cells, T cells bearing V beta 11 and V beta 12 are also specifically enriched. We have established V beta 5+ T cell lines, clones, and hybridomas expressing identical TCR with different CD4/CD8 phenotypes and demonstrated that T cell reactivity to B6-1710 is, although not absolute, dependent on the presence of CD4 molecules. Further analysis of T cell hybridomas with known J beta-chain usage revealed that D beta- and J beta-chain usage do not play crucial roles in T cell reactivity to B6-1710 B cells. However, T cell hybridomas derived from TCR-V beta gene transgenic mice were found to be heterogeneous for their reactivity to B6-1710, suggesting that the V alpha-chains associating with the transgenic V beta-chain determine T cell responsiveness to B6-1710. These data clearly demonstrate that T cell reactivity to a murine AIDS virus expressing B cell line resembles that previously reported for Mls-like superantigens.

Several murine superantigens in association with class II major histocompatibility complex proteins have been shown to cause the deletion of T cells based on the expression of particular beta-chain variable region (V beta) gene segments. We have previously shown that mice expressing the Etc-1 superantigen, encoded by an open reading frame within the 3' long terminal repeat of the endogenous mouse mammary tumor provirus (Mtv), Mtv-9, delete T cells expressing either V beta 5 or V beta 11 gene segments. Comparison of several Mtv 3' long terminal repeat open reading frame sequences has indicated that the carboxyl terminus likely encodes the V beta specificity of these proteins. Our analysis of C57BL/6 x DBA/2 recombinant inbred strains of mouse revealed three Mtv-9-negative strains that nevertheless have a low frequency of V beta 5-expressing T cells. Here we demonstrate that a second endogenous superantigen, responsible for the deletion of V beta 5-bearing T cells, is encoded by a gene mapping to Mtv-6 on chromosome 16. Surprisingly, the carboxyl-terminal sequences of the Mtv-6 and -9 superantigens are extremely divergent, in spite of the fact that they both mediate the deletion of V beta 5+ lymphocytes.

The development of an immunodeficiency syndrome of mice caused by a replication-defective murine leukemia virus (MuLV) is paradoxically associated with a rapid activation and proliferation of CD4+ T cells that are dependent on the presence of B cells. The responses of normal spleen cells to B cell lines that express the defective virus indicated that these lines express a cell surface determinant that shares "superantigenic" properties with some microbial antigens and Mls-like self antigens. This antigen elicited a potent proliferative response that was dependent on the presence of CD4+ T cells and was associated with selective expansion of cells bearing V beta 5. This response was markedly inhibited by a monoclonal antibody specific for the MuLV gag-encoded p30 antigen.

The CasBrE strain of neurotropic ecotropic murine leukemia virus (NE-MuLV) infects susceptible mice and induces a noninflammatory, slowly degenerative nervous system disease. We employed immunohistochemistry to identify which cells in the nervous system and other tissues contained viral antigen in the chronically infected mouse. Rabbit antiserum to the virus was prepared using different combinations of whole virus and synthetic peptides corresponding to a 14-amino-acid sequence of the viral envelope protein. Twenty-four of forty-four (55%) mice neonates inoculated intracranially with NE-MuLV developed symptoms ranging from tremulousness to hindlimb paralysis within 3-9 months. They were subsequently sacrificed and their tissues used for histology and immunohistochemistry. The major locations of viral antigen outside of the central nervous system (CNS) were skeletal muscle and spleen. Skeletal muscle was the only non-nervous system tissue that exhibited degenerative changes as atrophy of viral antigen-bearing oxidative myofibers. In the CNS, viral antigen was detected in neurons, endothelium, and glial cells. Immunohistochemical double-labeling studies for viral antigen and the astrocytic marker glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP) demonstrated that the viral antigen-containing glia were oligodendrocytes and not astrocytes. Tissue damage in the brain consisted of vacuolar changes and gliosis principally in the brainstem. Viral antigen was most abundantly localized in these regions of pathologic change. In the spinal cord a different pattern was observed. Although tissue damage was observed throughout the cord, viral antigen was located at the border of the gray and white matter. These findings indicate direct and indirect virus-mediated mechanisms of damage to the CNS.

The expression of endogenous ecotropic viruses in radiation-induced thymomas of C57BL/6 mice was examined. Competition radioimmunoassays for AKR MuLV gp71, p30, and p12 were used for viral antigen expression. 3 of 40 lymphomas had readily detectable ecotropic gp71 at levels of 95-689 ng/mg protein; the remainder of the tumors had no detectable gp71 (less than 1.0 ng/mg protein). 30 thymomas were characterized by the presence of MuLV p30 at levels of 1-10 ng/mg protein, levels that were comparable to those found in thymus extracts from age-matched, nonirradiated control. 10 tumors were characterized by having p30 levels of 10-30 ng/mg protein. In one tumor significant levels of AKR MuLV p12 were detectable. Since B-tropic and N-tropic viruses from C57BL/6 mice have glycoproteins (gp71) indistinguishable from AKR MuLV gp71 and the N-tropic virus had a p12 serologically identical to AKR MuLV p12, these results demonstrate that overt endogenous B-tropic virus was detectable in 2 of 40 thymomas and endogenous N-tropic virus was detectable in 1 of 40 thymomas. The lack of overt expression of gp71 or p12 was also confirmed by cytotoxicity assays using monospecific antisera to these viral proteins. Radiation-induced lymphomas were also examined for the presence of reverse transcriptase after chromatography of tissue extracts on poly G-Sepharose. One tumor, which was characterized by the lack of gp71, also had no detectable reverse transcriptase; whereas one tumor with gp71 was characterized by readily detectable levels of reverse transcriptase in cellular extracts. The presence of viral RNA was examined using AKR cDNA. Low levels of RNA capable of hybridizing with AKR cDNA were found in age-matched, nonirradiated mice; these hybrids had Tm's of 72 degrees C, while hybrids with AKR MuLV 70S RNA had Tm's of 80 degrees C. In 1 of 12 thymomas the concentration of hybridizable RNA and the Tm of the hybrids were identical to control values. In 9 of 12 thymomas the concentration of hybridizable sequences increased approximately three-to fivefold and the Tm of these hybrids varied from 73 to 75 degrees C. In 1 of 12 thymomas the concentration of hybridizable sequences increased over 100-fold, hybridized completely with AKR MuLV cDNA, and the hybrids had Tm's of 79 degrees C. This thymoma was also characterized by the presence of the AKR MuLV type of gp71 and p12. One tumor was characterized by a 10-to 100-fold increase in hybridizable sequences, which only partially hybridized with AKR MuLV cDNA, and hybrids had a Tm of 73 degrees C. This tumor was characterized by the presence of AKR MuLV gp71 but not AKR MuLV p12. The results taken together demonstrate that overt endogenous ecotropic virus expression is only rarely detectable in radiation-induced thymomas of C57BL/6 mice.

Murine alloantisera to lymphocyte (Ly) alloantigens also contain antibodies to murine leukaemia viruses (MuLV) in high titre. A number of such sera were extensively absorbed with ecotropic AKR murine leukaemia virus to remove contaminating anti-MuLV antibodies. The virus-absorbed and unabsorbed antisera were then examined by the radioimmune precipitation (RIP) assay for anti-MuLV antibodies, and for anti-Ly antibodies by cytotoxicity assays against specific target cells. The results presented here demonstrate that whilst virus absorption markedly reduced the anti-viral titres of the alloantisera they had no effect on the anti-Ly titres of any of them. This indicates that none of the Ly antigens which was examined cross reacts with the antigens of ecotropic AKR-MuLV and further suggests that Ly antigens are not encoded by the genes of endogenous ecotropic MuLVs. It was also demonstrated that the majority of the contaminating anti-MuLV antibodies present in anti-Ly-6.2 antiserum recognize viral envelope antigens rather than the internal structural proteins of the virus.

The murine bone marrow population mainly responsible for the unique competing activity of this lymphoid organ in the competition radioimmunoassay (cRIA) for AKR murine leukaemia viruses gp71 has been partially purified and characterized. That population could be distinguished by the following properties: (i)gp71+ cells (cell population expressing the AKR MuLV gp71 antigen) are mainly medium density cells, according to their distribution in the layers of a discontinuous bovine serum albumin (BSA) gradient; (ii) The gp71 positive cells are not mature lymphocytes; (iii) This cell population is found both in the FcR+ and FcR- compartments and is not included in the complement (C') receptor-positive population; and finally, (iv) the gp71+ cells are phagocytic cells and an adherent cell population according to its capacity to adhere to plastic surfaces, nylon wool and Sephadex G-10.

We recently reported that thymocytes from 6-month-old preleukemic AKR mice express higher levels of murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-related antigens that thymocytes from 2-month-old mice. We have now found that the level of xenotropic MuLV (defined operationally as MuLV able to infect mink cell cultures) is also markedly increased in thymus of 6-month-old AKR mice and that this increase in virus correlates closely with increased MuLV-antigen expression. There is no increase of MuLV antigen or xenotropic virus in spleen or lymph nodes. Production of ecotropic MuLV remains unchanged with age in thymus, lymph nodes, and spleen. Thymic grafts from 6-month-old AKR mice, but not from 2-month-old mice, induce both amplified MuLV-antigen expression and xenotropic virus production in the thymus of young AKR recipients. Experiments with lethally irradiated AKR mice reconstituted with syngeneic bone marrow cells indicate that age-related changes in the thymus rather than in bone marrow precursor cells are responsible for MuLV-antigen amplification.

Hybridomas obtained from (NFS X AKR)F mice immunized with syngeneic cells infected with AKR-247 MCF virus produced antibodies specific for only AKR-247 or closely related MCF viruses which hare a previously defined MCF antigen (MCFA-3). These monoclonal antibodies recognized a new type of viral antigenic determinant which appeared to be a conformational determinant associated with the env precursor polyprotein (pr80env) or its disulfide-linked gp70-p15(E) complex (gp80) but not with free gp70 or p15(E) or any other virion or virus-induced protein.

T lymphoma induction by the mink cell focus-inducing murine leukemia virus MCF 1233 in C57BL/10 and C57BL/6 mice is influenced by a strongly Th-dependent, H-2I-A-restricted antiviral immune response (25). We compared the MHC class I as well as viral env and gag antigenic cell surface profiles of frequent T lymphomas of H-2I-A nonresponder-type mice to that of rare T lymphomas of H-2I-A responder-type mice. Membrane immunofluorescence studies, with a panel of anti-env mAbs (reactive with the highly conserved gp70f epitope, the p15Ec epitope, and the gp70-p15E complex), a polyclonal anti-p30 serum, and anti-H-2 class I mAbs, showed that all 17 nonresponder tumors tested expressed high levels of both env and gag viral proteins, and 15 of these 17 nonresponder tumors expressed high levels of H-2 class I K and D antigens. In contrast, 10 of 11 responder lymphomas lacked env and/or gag determinants. The only responder lymphoma with both strong env and gag expression failed to express H-2K and -D antigens. Preferential loss of env or gag expression did not correlate with H-2 class I allelic specificities. Both responder and nonresponder T lymphoma DNA contained multiple, predominantly MCF-like, newly acquired proviral integrations. Differences in viral antigen cell surface expression were confirmed at cytoplasmic and RNA levels. The amounts of 8.2- and 3.2-kb viral RNA were greatly reduced in two responder lymphomas when compared with four nonresponder lymphomas. In both responder lymphomas, aberrantly sized viral RNA species were found. Upon in vivo passage of these responder lymphomas in either immunocompetent or T cell-deficient nu/nu mice, it was found that various molecular mechanisms may underlie the lack of viral antigen expression at the cell surface of these lymphomas. One lymphoma re-expressed viral antigens when transplanted with nu/nu mice, whereas the other remained stably gag negative. The combined findings indicate that an H-2I-A-regulated antiviral immune response not only strongly reduces T lymphoma incidence, but also forces T lymphomas that still arise to poorly express viral antigens, thus explaining their escape from immunosurveillance.

The indirect membrane immunofluorescence test and the absorption analysis of rabbit anti-FeLV, rabbit anti-FeLVp 30, and rabbit anti-MuLVp 30 antisera yielded the following conclusions. An antigen shared by mammalian (murine and feline) C-type RNA leukemia and sarcoma viruses was detected on the surface of cells infected or transformed by C-type viruses. The antigen was characterized as membrane-bound gs antigen bearing two determinants, membrane-bound gs-1, intraspecies-specific antigenic determinant, and membrane-bound gs-3, interspecies-specific antigenic determinant. Membrane-bound gs antigen was located on the cell surface, frequently near the site of virus budding but not on the envelope of murine C-type RNA virus.

The serological properties of the gag gene products p15 and p12 of N- and B-tropic viruses of C57BL mice have been examined. Although these viruses were serologically identical by competition assays for proteins gp71 and p30, they were readily distinguishable in competition assays for proteins p15 and p12. Two isolates of N-tropic viruses had p12s serologically indistinguishable from AKR murine leukemia virus p12, while two B-tropic isolates had distinctly different p12s. The latter p12s were serologically indistinguishable from the p12 purified from the B-tropic radiation leukemia virus (RadLV)/VL-3. Moreover, this p12 was indistinguishable from the p12 of the endogenous C57BL/Ka xenotropic virus. Similarly, the p15s of the B-tropic viruses were serologically distinct from the AKR murine leukemia virus type of p15, as was the p15 of one C57BL N-tropic virus, whilc another N-tropic isolate had a p15 identical to the AKR murine leukemia virus p15. These results are interprered to suggest that the endogenous N-tropic virus of C57BL mice undergoes recombination with the endogenous, xenotropic virus and that this mechanism is involved in the generation of B-tropic viruses in C57BL mice.

The GIX antigen expressed on the thymocytes of GIX+ mice is a type-specific constituent of glycoprotein gp70, which forms the major envelope component of murine leukemia virus. In the prototype GIX+ mouse strain 129, this glycoprotein is a Mendelian character expressed independently of virus production. In the intact thymocyte plasma membrane, part of this glycoprotein, bearing group-specific (gs) antigen, is inaccessible to antibody. The moiety bearing the type-specific GIX determinant is accessible to GIX antibody, which may be an important factor in determining the consequences of autoimmune responses involving GIX. Previously, all attempts to induce GIX antibody in mice had failed. We now find that the hybrid mouse (B6-GIX+ X 129) spontaneously produces substantial amounts of GIX antibody, presumably of the IgM class appearing as early as 2 mo of age. The specificity of the GIX natural mouse antibody is the same as that recognized by the conventional GIX typing serum produced in rats ("anti-NTD"). As neither parent strain produces appreciable GIX antibody, we surmise that this autoimmune response requires two dominant genes, each parent contributing a high-response allele to the hybrid. These can be envisaged as two immune response loci, controlling different immunocompetent cells which must cooperate to produce GIX antibody. Production of GIX antibody by the hybrids increases progressively with age. This is accompanied by decreased expression of GIX antigen on their thymocytes. We attribute this to antigenic modulation. Antibody to gs antigen of gp70 is also found in autoimmune (B6-GIX+ X 129) hybrids but not in either parent strain. We are investigating evidence of a pathological autoimmune syndrome in these hybrids. The special interest of this syndrome is that it presumably signifies the consequences of autoimmunization to a single C-type virus component, expressed without significant virus production, in a mouse with no evident genetic predisposition to such disease in the absence of that antigen.

The autogenous humoral immune response of mice to their endogenous leukemia virus has been examined in terms of the reactivities of individual classes of antibody present in normal B6C3F(1) serum. Whole serum and the immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG fractions of serum from animals of different age groups were compared by radioimmune precipitation assays and viral infectivity neutralization assays. Both IgM and IgG fractions were able to precipitate virus, although not as effectively as whole serum. Virus-specific antibody levels, as well as total antibody concentrations in whole serum, appeared to increase with age. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis analysis was performed with immune precipitates obtained when whole serum or 19 or 7S fractions from animals of different age groups were reacted with disrupted virus. The 19S antibody fraction reacted with three antigenic determinants on the viral envelope. These antigens have apparent molecular weights of 17,000, 43,000, and 68,000. The last two appear to be glycoproteins and may correspond to the M(2) and M(1) antigens. In contrast, the 7S component reacted only with the 17,000-molecular-weight protein. Neutralization assays against BALB:virus-2, a xenotropic endogenous mouse type C virus, revealed that 19S and whole serum but not the 7S fraction possessed neutralizing activity. These findings indicate that there are differential reactivities of IgM and IgG antibodies in normal serum of B6C3F(1) mice, with respect to both recognition of viral envelope antigens and neutralization of endogenous MuLV. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the autogenous humoral immune response is a systemic host function that may be important in the regulation of endogenous type C virus expression in vivo.

We report here the serologic detection of a cell surface antigen common to cells transformed by the Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) and to normal hematopoietic cells from certain strains of mice. Serum from C57BL/6 mice hyperimmunized with syngeneic A-MuLV lymphoma cells was cytotoxic for the immunizing cells; this reaction was used as the serologic test system for recognition of A-MuLV antigens. Absorption analysis using 40 tumors and 21 cell lines revealed that two serologic specificities were detected by this test system: (i) FMR antigen(s) related to the Moloney MuLV helper (the virus from which A-MuLV was originally derived), and (ii) an antigen expressed on all cells transformed by A-MuLV. The A-MuLV-specific antigen was also present on uninfected cells from BALB/c bone marrow, spleen, and fetal liver but not from adult liver, thymus, lymph nodes, or peripheral blood. Abelson antigen was not expressed on bone marrow or spleen cells of 12 other mouse strains. In light of the original isolation of A-MuLV from a BALB/c mouse infected with Moloney virus, it is possible that Abelson antigen is a serologic marker for a gene of BALB/c mice, normally encoding a cell surface molecule, that was incorporated into the Moloney virus genome during the generation of A-MuLV.

It is known that the thymocyte surface antigen GIX is found in some strains of mice and not others, and that its expression in mice of strain 129, in which most extensive genetic studies have been made, is controlled by two unlinked cellular chromosomal loci. We have now isolated a protein with a mol wt of approximately 70,000 daltons from the surface of thymocytes from 129 mice, which have antigenic and biochemical properties characteristic of the gp69/71 envelope component of murine leukemia virus. Our evidence is compatible with the conclusion that it carries the GIX antigen.

We previously described the generation and specificity of H-2-restricted cytolytic lymphocytes (CTL) directed against tumors induced by AKR/Gross murine leukemia viruses (MuLV). Such anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL demonstrated type specificity; only tumors induced by endogenous MuLV that expressed the Gross cell-surface antigen were lysed. These CTL and their precursor also recognized normal spleen cells from AKR-H-2b, but not AKR-H-2b, Fv-1b mice, however, suggesting that N-ecotropic, retrovirus-associated antigens were primarily involved. Here, expression of these CTL-defined retroviral antigens by H-2b-positive AKR X C57L recombinant inbred strains was examined by using normal spleen cells as stimulators in the generation of specific anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL. Analysis of the strain distribution pattern of stimulation indicated that a single proviral locus, Akv-1, was primarily, if not entirely, responsible for CTL-defined retroviral antigen expression. The lack of correlation with two other well-defined proviral loci was interesting. Whereas Akv-3 is known to encode a defective virus, Akv-4 has been shown to code for an infectious virus thought to be very similar or identical to that of Akv-1. Although quantitative differences cannot be formally excluded, dose response experiments argued against this possibility and suggested that Akv-1 and Akv-4 may exhibit qualitative differences germane to antiviral CTL recognition.

Thymocytes from preleukemic AKR mice aged 5-6 mo have an altered pattern of cell surface antigens. The expression of four MuLV-related antigens on the cell surface (GIX, GCSA, gp70, p30) is markedly increased in comparison to 2-mo-old AKR mice and approximates the heightened levels of these antigens found on thymic leukemia cells. H-2 and Thy-1 alloantigens also show characteristic modifications in relation to age and leukemia development. In contrast to the high Thy-1/low H-2 levels on 2-mo-old AKR thymocytes, thymocytes from 6-mo-old mice and thymic leukemia cells frequently show a low Thy-1/high H-2 surface phenotype. As thymocytes from mouse strains with a low incidence of leukemia do not show these changes, they appear to represent a stage in the conversion of normal cells to leukemia cells.

We have initiated the molecular definition of the antigens recognized by Gross MuLV-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes on the surface of Gross MuLV-induced tumor cells. A panel of target cells was obtained by the double transfection and expression of a retrovirus gene and a foreign H-2 gene in recipient mouse fibroblasts. Our results show that class I H-2 transplantation antigens have a directive influence in determining the antigenicity of proteins encoded by the gag and env MuLV genes. Genes not linked to H-2 influence the intensity and the specificity of the cytolytic T lymphocyte response to Gross MuLV-induced tumors. Finally, MuLV-induced antigens expressed by transfected fibroblasts induce tumor immunity and lead to accelerated tumor rejection in vivo.

We investigated the nature of a common tumor rejection antigen(s) in chemically induced murine fibrosarcomas. Two methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcomas, previously demonstrated to contain a common tumor rejection antigen(s), released infectious ecotropic murine leukemia virus and expressed the murine leukemia virus proteins, a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 70,000 (gp70) and an envelope protein with a molecular weight of 15,000. To determine whether an antigen(s) specified by a murine leukemia virus might serve as a common tumor rejection antigen(s), primary cultures of syngeneic embryo cells or cultures of an allogeneic embryo cell line were infected with an endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus obtained from one of the cross-reacting fibrosarcomas; expression of infectious virus and/or viral proteins by infected and uninfected embryo cells was monitored and correlated with the results of transplantation protection tests. Uninfected allogeneic embryo cells (SC-1) did not release infectious virus or the viral protein gp70; mice immunized with SC-1 cells did not inhibit tumor growth. Uninfected syngeneic embryo cells did not release infectious virus but did release micrograms quantities of gp70 into supernatant fluids; mice immunized with uninfected syngeneic cells inhibited tumor growth in two of seven experiments. Virus-infected syngeneic and allogeneic embryo cells released both infectious ecotropic murine leukemia virus and gp70; mice immunized with virus-infected cells inhibited tumor growth in 11 of 11 experiments. Growth of the two cross-reacting fibrosarcomas was inhibited in mice immunized with virus-infected embryo cells. The results indicate that antigens coded for by endogenous murine leukemia virus may function as common tumor rejection antigen on chemically induced murine fibrosarcomas.

Using the Ouchterlony immunodiffusion method and indirect immunofluorescence tests on tissue slices the antigenic structure of iAp of mouse mammary tumour origin has further been investigated. Antisera against iAp, MTV-B particles, B particle polypeptide p27 and glycoprotein gp52, and leukemia C-type particles were used in these studies. The most prominent antigen of iAp in mammary tumours was found to be identical to the p27 antigen of B particles. This finding was not unexpected in view of recently published data by other authors showing the presence of p27 in iAp of leukemia cells and Leydig cell tumours. The p27 polypeptide is considered to be a group-specific antigen of mouse mammary tumour viruses associated with iAp of different tissue sources and inner structural components of mature B particles. On the other hand, the gp52 antigen and leukemia virus antigens were shown to be absent from iAp of mammary carcinomas. Therefore, the assumption is confirmed that the gp52 glycoprotein represents a group-specific antigen of B type viruses, presumably located at the virion surface. The failure to demonstrate leukemia virus antigens in iAp supports the suggestion that this kind of particles is not related to C type viruses.

The bone marrow of AKR mice is the richest source of infectious ecotropic cell centers (ICCs) during the neonatal period. The bone marrow ICCs reside in a low-density population expressing high levels of viral glycoprotein (gp71) and Class I histocompatibility antigens (H-2Kk). In addition, ICCs are enriched in the lymphoid band of Ficoll-Hypaque-fractionated bone marrow, the adherent population of nylon wool separated cells and among the low-density subpopulation of Percoll-fractionated marrow. The observed dichotomy between viral antigen expression and actual virus production suggests that actively cycling cells may be the primary virus producers in the AKR bone marrow. The phenotypic and physical data indicate that bone marrow stem cells and/or prothymocytes may be among the initial virus producing cells in the AKR bone marrow. Leukemosuppressive antiviral immunotherapy delays the appearance of ICCs in the bone marrow but does not exert any major long-term changes on the populations of cells present.

A thymic lymphoblastoid cell line derived from a New Zealand Black mouse produces murine leukemia virus (MuLV) and was used as a target in model systems for the in vitro study of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Several human lymphoblastoid cell lines were investigated as potential effector cells. The most promising (Raji cells) bound to antibody-coated target cells but caused only modest levels of ADCC at 25:1 effector-to-target cell ratio with substantial lysis in the absence of antiserum. Human peripheral lymphocytes were active as effector cells in ADCC at a 5:1 ratio and produced no lysis in the absence of antibody. These cells were used to demonstrate that high dilutions of rabbit antisera to MuLV antigens p30, p15, p12, and p10 were capable of mediating lysis of MuLV-producing target cells but not of a virus-negative murine cell line. A murine antiserum to Thy 1.2 and three caprine antisera to MuLV antigens that were active in complement-mediated cytotoxicity functioned poorly in inducing ADCC; however, rabbit antisera to similar antigens were 16- to 512-fold more efficient in cell-mediated than in complement lysis. The inefficiency of goat antisera was not due to shedding of cell surface antigens or generation of blocking factors but rather to lack of lytic interaction of antibody-coated targets with the effector cells.

The oncornavirus related proteins associated with the surface of normal and malignant thymocytes were studied. Three virion-associated proteins (gp69/71, p45, p30) were associated with lymphoma cells from about 70% of the tumors studied. Two virion-associated proteins (gp69/71 and p45 were associated with normal thymocytes form some but not all strains of mice. In gp69/71- mice, conversion to the gp69/71+ phenotype accompanied leukemogenesis. An interesting difference in the apparent molecular size of virus related antigens of the 70,000 dalton size class was detected in lymphoma cells present in involved spleens as compared to involved thymuses. Mice infected as neonates with Scripps leukemia virus make antibody to gp69/71 and some make antibodies to molecules associated with the surface of their own tumors. The significance of the restricted presence of antigens coded for by the viral genome to the surface of some differentiated cells is discussed in reference to (a) the relationship between virion, leukemia associated, and differentiation dependent markers, and (b) the possible consequence to the host of having similar antigenic determinants on three independent structures with replicative potential (virus, normal thymocytes, and tumor cells).

Comparison of a number of murine leukemia virus clones by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed extensive protein polymorphism among B-tropic, but not N-tropic, isolates from BALB/c mice, particularly in migration of p30 proteins. A type-specific radioimmunoassay for p30 was developed which uniformly discriminated all B-tropic viruses from N-tropic viruses of BALB/c origin. N- and B-tropic viruses of C57BL/6 and AKR Fv-1b/b origin could also be distinguished by this assay.

The functional activity in vivo of murine tumor-specific cytolytic T lymphocyte populations and clones was studied. Tumor cell destruction induced after the i.v. injection of cytolytic effector cells was quantitated by monitoring the elimination of 131IUdR-labeled tumor cells in the peritoneal cavity by using whole-body counting techniques. Mixed leukocyte-tumor cell cultures were established by using spleen cells from C57BL/6 regressor mice that had rejected an intramuscular tumor induced by the injection of MSV-MoMuLV virus. This effector cell population was observed to eliminate syngeneic MoMuLV-induced tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of the effector cell population with monoclonal anti-Lyt-2 antibodies plus complement totally abrogated their ability to induce tumor cell destruction in the peritoneal cavity. MSV-MoMuLV-specific Lyt-2+ cytolytic T cell clones derived by micro-manipulation of T lymphocyte-tumor cell conjugates were also tested for functional activity in vivo. Several clones induced a rapid, specific elimination of 131I-labeled MBL-2 tumor cells from the peritoneal cavity after i.v. injection, whereas others were inactive. Both active and inactive clones were highly cytolytic and secreted MAF/IFN-gamma lymphokines. In contrast to previous results obtained in a tumor allograft model, the MSV-MoMuLV-specific cytolytic T cell clones that were active in vivo did not proliferate in vitro in response to stimulation with irradiated tumor cells plus filler spleen cells in the absence of an added source of interleukin 2.

Unique type-specific antigens were detected on cells infected with dualtropic and thymotropic viruses isolated and x-ray-induced T cell- and B cell-malignant lymphomas of C57BL/6 mice. These antigens were defined by membrane fluorescence with antisera made in rabbits against rabbit cells chronically infected with cloned virus. The antisera were qualitatively absorbed with a group of cells chronically infected with related dualtropic, ecotropic, and xenotropic viruses. The absorbed antisera detected type-specific, virus-related cell-surface antigens that were unique for different dualtropic virus isolates. The unabsorbed sera also reacted with antigens found specifically on ecotropic and xenotropic virus-infected cells. These findings support the contention that T cell lymphoma (TCL)-inducing and B cell lymphoma (BCL)-inducing viruses isolated from x-irradiated C57BL/6 mice are env gene recombinants in which ecotropic gene sequences have been substituted by xenotropic sequences. We found that unique antigenicities are associated with each TCL-inducing and BCL-inducing dualtropic virus, and that the thymotropic TCL-inducing virus isolates (e.g., 136.5 adn 136.7 viruses) represent a separate serologic group, different from the dualtropic TCL-inducing viruses. By using a series of absorbed antisera in microimmunofluorescence tests we could perform serologic virus mapping of dualtropic clones isolated by us or by others and relate them serologically to previously isolated clones. These virus mapping experiments indicated that many serologically different recombinant viruses can be isolated from C57BL/6 mice. It is suggested that many distinct recombinant viruses may exist in lymphomagenic C57BL/6 mice, some of which are associated with specific lymphoma induction.

Wild mouse ecotropic virus-induced spongiform encephalomyelopathy pathologically similar to scrapie was associated with the expression of retrovirus antigens in mouse brains. However, scrapie-infected mice with spongiform encephalopathy showed no increased expression of retrovirus antigens in brain. Thus, the pathogenesis of the scrapie spongiform lesion does not appear to involve activation of endogenous retrovirus.

Removal of T-lymphocytes from marrow inoculum with monoclonal antibody plus complement permitted establishment of long-lived allogeneic chimeras between C57BL/6 and AKR/J mice. Development of leukemia was prevented for 15 mo. Protection from leukemia occurred with both young (4 wk) and older (4 mo) recipients. AKR mice reconstituted with syngeneic marrow or control AKR mice all developed leukemia-lymphoma before 1 yr of age. During spontaneous lymphomagenesis in AKR mice, amplified expression of gag or env gene-coded virus antigens on the surface of thymocytes preceded leukemia development and evidence for amplification of other virus genes. These changes generally appeared before 6 mo. Similar viral gene expression and viral gene amplification occurred in the thymus and spleen cells of leukemia-resistant chimeric mice. Using monoclonal antibodies to Mr 70,000 glycoprotein epitopes characteristic of ecotropic, xenotropic, or dualtropic viruses, antigens marking each virus form were found on thymocytes of allogeneic 4-wk and 4-mo chimeras as well as on the cells of AKR mice and of AKR mice reconstituted with syngeneic marrow. Flow cytometric analysis showed amplification of the virus genes in mice protected from leukemia-lymphoma by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from leukemia-resistant mice. Allogeneic chimeras and syngeneically transplanted mice both showed evidence of accelerated viremia and of recombinant virus formation. The findings suggest that an event essential to leukemogenesis which occurs within the AKR lymphoid cells or their environment is lacking in the allogeneic chimeras. The nature of this influence of a resistance gene or genes introduced into AKR mice by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation deserves further study.