Mammary preneoplasia and tumorigenesis in the BALB/c mouse: structure and modification of mouse mammary tumor virus DNA sequences

Abstract

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) DNA sequences were examined in mammary tissues from BALB/c mice, including both preneoplastic hyperplastic alveolar nodule (HAN) outgrowth lines, tumors derived from those preneoplastic tissues, and DMBA-induced mammary tumors. Over 60 different HAN and tumors samples were analyzed. The D2 HAN line contained one additional provirus, whereas Cv-2 and Cv-4 HAN lines that are infected with exogenous virus exhibited multiple virus integration events. D2 tumors showed the same provirus pattern as D2 HANs, whereas Cv-2 and Cv-4 tumors exhibited a subset of the acquired proviruses found in the parental HAN populations. Differential methylation patterns of virus-specific sequences were observed that resembled those described for other tissues in which viral DNA replication and integration has occurred, i.e., acquired proviruses were hypomethylated and endogenous proviruses were methylated. In tumors that arose from HAN lines and exhibited only endogenous proviruses, demethylation of the subgenomic Mtv-6 locus was observed. Demethylation of Mtv-6 was not detected in any of the preneoplastic tissues. Altered methylation of Mtv-8 and −9 was observed in both Cv-2 and Cv-4 tumors. Finally, mammary tumors induced by DMBA carried no acquired proviruses and demethylation of endogenous MMTV proviruses was demonstrated.