Endogenous Ecotropic Murine Leukemia Virus Research Articles

Endogenous Retroviruses Provide Protection Against Vaginal HSV-2 Disease.

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are genomic sequences that originated from retroviruses and are present in most eukaryotic genomes. Both beneficial and detrimental functions are attributed to ERVs, but whether ERVs contribute to antiviral immunity is not well understood. Here, we used herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection as a model and found that Toll-like receptor 7 (Tlr7 -/-) deficient mice that have high systemic levels of infectious ERVs are protected from intravaginal HSV-2 infection and disease, compared to wildtype C57BL/6 mice. We deleted the endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus (Emv2) locus on the Tlr7 -/- background (Emv2 -/- Tlr7 -/-) and found that Emv2 -/- Tlr7 -/- mice lose protection against HSV-2 infection. Intravaginal application of purified ERVs from Tlr7-/- mice prior to HSV-2 infection delays disease in both wildtype and highly susceptible interferon-alpha receptor-deficient (Ifnar1- /-) mice. However, intravaginal ERV treatment did not protect Emv2-/-Tlr7-/- mice from HSV-2 disease, suggesting that the protective mechanism mediated by exogenous ERV treatment may differ from that of constitutively and systemically expressed ERVs in Tlr7-/- mice. We did not observe enhanced type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling in the vaginal tissues from Tlr7-/- mice, and instead found enrichment in genes associated with extracellular matrix organization. Together, our results revealed that constitutive and/or systemic expression of ERVs protect mice against vaginal HSV-2 infection and delay disease.

Endogenous retroviruses mediate IFN-independent protection against vaginal HSV-2 infection

Abstract Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are genomic sequences that originated from retroviruses and are present in most eukaryotic genomes. Both beneficial and detrimental functions are attributed to ERVs, but whether ERVs contribute to antiviral immunity is not known. Here we used herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection and found that mice deficient in Toll-like receptor 7 (Tlr7−/−) that have high systemic levels of infectious ERVs are resistant to intravaginal HSV-2 infection compared with wildtype C57BL/6 (B6) mice. We deleted the endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus (Emv2) locus on the Tlr7−/− background (Emv2−/−Tlr7−/−) and found that Emv2−/−Tlr7−/− mice are no longer protected against HSV-2. Intravaginal application of purified ERVs prior to HSV-2 infection in both B6 and highly susceptible interferon-alpha receptor-deficient (Ifnar1−/−) mice delayed disease course. We did not observe enhanced type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling in the vaginal tissues from Tlr7−/− mice or B6 mice treated with purified ERVs. Instead, we observed enhanced expression of epithelial tight junction protein, E-cadherin, in the vaginal epithelium of ERV-treated B6 mice. Similar increase in tight junction proteins was observed in Tlr7−/− but not in the Emv2−/−Tlr7−/− mice. Together, our results showed that IFN-independent modulation of the vaginal epithelium by ERVs protects mice against vaginal HSV-2 infection and lowers disease burden.

Constitutive activation of Stat5a by retrovirus integration in early pre-B lymphomas of SL/Kh strain mice.

We found that the second intron of Stat5a was one of the common integration sites of the endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus, i.e., SL/Kh virus integration-1 (Svi1), in early pre-B lymphomas in SL/Kh mice. The high expression of STAT5A induced by Svi1 integration and activation accelerated the transcription of its target genes such as c-Myc. Transfection of the constitutively active Stat5a mutant cDNA, but not of the wild-type cDNA, to the bone marrow cells induced colony formation of pre-B cells in a methylcellulose medium and escaped from dependence on IL-7. Such growth depended on a genetic factor in the SL/Kh strain. Consitutively high expression of Stat5a either by retrovirus integration or transfection of active mutant cDNA can be lymphomagenic to early pre-B cells in collaboration with a certain genetic background factor of mice.

A gene therapy model for retrovirus-induced disease with a viral env gene: expression-dependent resistance in immunosuppressed hosts.

At the initial stage of retroviral infection, virion envelope glycoprotein (env product) binds to cell surface receptors. Cells infected with retrovirus or into which the env gene was introduced, become resistant to superinfection by other retroviruses with the same receptor specificity, a phenomenon known as receptor interference. We have demonstrated previously that the introduction of an env gene from a truncated endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV), the Fv-4 resistance (Fv-4r) gene, into the bone marrow hematopoietic cells of Fv-4 sensitive (Fv-4s) mice protected mice from ecotropic retrovirus-induced disease. Using the gene transfer system under the control of the retroviral vector and bone marrow transplantation (BMT), here we could show that the expression of an introduced Fv-4r gene in hematopoietic cells continued for more than 1 year after BMT. To determine the inhibitory mechanism of Fv-4r env gene expression against FLV-infection in this model system, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), or spleen cells from chimeras with various degrees of env-expression, were mixed with green fluorescence protein (GFP)-conjugated Friend MuLV envglycoprotein (GFP-Fr-ENV). The amount of GFP-Fr-ENV bound to these cells inversely correlated with the expression intensity of the transduced env gene indicating the receptor interference effect. Next, to see whether transduction of the Fv-4r gene would protect an immunosuppressed host from FLV-induced leukemogenesis, we generated immunocompromised chimeras by transplanting env-transduced bone marrow cells into a thymectomized host. These chimeras also resisted FLV-induced leukemogenesis, indicating that receptor interference-based gene therapy could become a therapeutic basis for immunodeficiency virus-induced diseases in vivo.

Reproductive, Genetic and Oncogenic Complications in Transgenic Mice Developed by Micro-injection of Recombinant DNA Constructs That Contain Mouse Chromosomal Retroviral Long-Terminal-Repeat Elements

Six different recombinant DNA clones, each containing a marker gene that carries at its 5’ side the long-terminal-repeat (LTR) sequence of endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus or two related mouse chromosomal retroviral gene families, were micro-injected into fertilized mouse eggs of FVB/N inbred strain for the purpose of generating transgenic mice. After overnight incubation, 1373 of the 3154 micro-injected fertilized eggs divided into two-cell embryos which were transferred, 10 to 15 per oviduct, into pseudo-pregnant B6C3Fl mice. From a total of 1297 two-cell embryos transferred, about one fourth developed into mature fetuses in the surrogate mother uteri and were born; but after birth many neonates were lost due to maternal cannibalism. Only 168 live FVB/N weanlings were obtained and 34 of them were tested positive of the micro-injected endogenous retroviral LTR transgenes by dot-blot analysis of the tail DNA preparation. The apparent failure of DNA micro-injected zygote to undergo the first cell division and subsequent embryo development did not differ significantly among the 6 LTR-marker gene constructs used for microinjection, suggesting the transgenic procedures or processes as the major cause of abnormal embryo development. From 5-6 weeks of age, each of these 34 original generation transgenic mice was individually housed with fertile non-transgenic FVB/N mice of the opposite sex for mating. Poor reproductive performance was found in six, including three completely sterile and runted. Suggesting dominant genetic defects in reproductive performance. The remaining fertile transgenic mice could serve as “founders” to generate F1 and subsequent generations of homozygous progeny, leading to distinct transgenic mouse lines in FVB/N genetic background. Examination of the progeny mice generated from fertile founders showed that the maker gene expression was usually undetectable and the LTR portion of the transgene-DNA was methylated in various organs, suggesting a silent state of transcription of the LTR-containing transgenes. An obvious recessive mutation affecting neuro-muscular function was observed. Other than apparent transgene instability in some of female founders and apparent leukemogenic effects of a LTR interleukin-3 marker gene, as previously reported, increased tumor incidence was observed in some founder mice and their descendent generations. In the female progeny of a transgenic mouse line that carried a mouse Y-chromosome (male-specific) LTR elements, there was an apparent increase of tumor incidence in the reproductive organs, such as ovary, uterus and mammary gland.

IFN-gamma can promote tumor evasion of the immune system in vivo by down-regulating cellular levels of an endogenous tumor antigen.

Although IFN-gamma has been generally thought to enhance antitumor immune responses, we found that IFN-gamma can promote tumor escape in the CT26 colon carcinoma by down-regulating the protein expression of an endogenous tumor Ag. gp70, the env product of the endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus, has been reported to be the immunodominant Ag of CT26. We show that IFN-gamma down-regulates intracellular and surface levels of gp70 protein resulting in a reduced lysis by CTL, which is restored by pulsing IFN-gamma-treated CT26 with the L(d)-restricted immunodominant AH1 epitope derived from gp70. To investigate the role of CT26 sensitivity to IFN-gamma in vivo, we constructed two variants of CT26, CT26.mugR and CT26.IFN, that are unresponsive to IFN-gamma or express IFN-gamma, respectively. We demonstrate using these variants that tumor responsiveness to IFN-gamma promotes a reduction in tumor immunogenicity in vivo that is correlated with an increased tumor incidence in immune mice. Analysis of the tumors from mice challenged with CT26 or CT26.mugR revealed infiltration of CD8 T cells secreting IFN-gamma. We conclude that IFN-gamma secreted by tumor-infiltrating T cells promotes tumor escape through the down-regulation of the endogenous tumor Ag gp70. These findings have impact on the design of effective antitumor vaccine strategies.

Anti-tumor Immunity against CT26 Colon Tumor in Mice Immunized with Plasmid DNA Encoding β-Galactosidase Fused to an Envelope Protein of Endogenous Retrovirus

Endogenous retroviral gene products have been recognized as being expressed in human cancerous tissues. However, these products have not been shown to be antigenic targets for T-cells, possibly due to immune tolerance. Since carcinogen-induced colon tumor CT26 expresses an envelope protein, gp70, of an endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus that is comparable to human tumor-associated antigens, we examined whether a DNA vaccine containing the gp70 gene induces protective immunity against CT26 cells. Injection of mice with plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding gp70 alone failed to induce anti-gp70 antibody (Ab) or anti-CT26 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. However, immunization with pDNA encoding the β-galactosidase (β-gal)/gp70 fusion protein induced anti-gp70 Ab and anti-CT26 CTL responses and conferred protective immunity against CT26 cells. These results indicate that β-gal acts as an immunogenic carrier protein that helps in the induction of immune responses against the poorly immunogenic gp70. Considering these results, it is possible that potential tolerance to the endogenous retroviral gene products expressed by human tumors may be overcome by DNA vaccines that contain an endogenous retroviral gene fused to genes encoding immunogenic carrier proteins.

Detection of Integrated Murine Leukemia Viruses in a Mouse Model of Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Combined with Tyramide Signal Amplification

This study was undertaken to develop a reliable method to enumerate and map somatically acquired, clonal, murine leukemia virus (MuLV) proviral insertions in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells from the BXH-2 mouse strain. This was achieved by using fluorescence in situ hybridization combined with tyramide signal amplification (FISH-TSA) and an 8.8 kilobase pair (kb) full-length ecotropic MuLV or 2.0 kb MuLV envelope ( env) gene probe. Two-color FISH was utilized combining chromosome-specific probes for regions near the telomere and/or centromere and the MuLV probes. The technique reliably detected germline and somatically acquired, tumor-specific, MuLV proviruses in BXH-2 AML cell lines. It was possible to readily verify homozygous insertions at endogenous ecotropic MuLV loci, Emv1 (chromosome 5), Emv2 (chromosome 8) and a BXH-2 strain-specific locus (chromosome 11). This strategy also verified the presence of molecularly cloned proviral insertions within the mouse Nf1 gene and another locus on distal chromosome 11, as well as on chromosome 7 and chromosome 9 in BXH-2 AML cell line B117. The technique was also used to detect several new tumor-specific, proviral insertions in BXH-2 AML cell lines.

The nucleotide sequence of the high-leukemogenic murine retrovirus SL3-3 reveals a patch of mink cell focus forming-like sequences upstream of the ecotropic envelope gene. Brief report.

We report the complete nucleotide sequence of the potent T-lymphomagenic murine retrovirus SL3-3. The non-LTR regions of the virus show 98% sequence identity to the endogenous ecotropic Akv murine leukemia virus. While the region encoding the surface envelope protein is completely identical to that of Akv, a approximately 200 nucleotide stretch in the integrase encoding region upstream of env is similar to the sequence of mink cell focus forming (MCF) viruses and shows a complete match with the mouse retrovirus 10A1. The history of SL3-3 may therefore include recombination involving an Akv-like virus and a virus with MCF-like sequences.

Genetic and epigenetic resistance of SL/Ni mice to lymphomas.

The murine spontaneous B lymphoma is etiologically related to the expression of endogenous ecotropic marine leukemia virus (ETV). Although both SL/Kh and SL/Ni mouse strains show a high level of expression of ETV from early in life, the former is a pre‐B lymphoma‐prone strain and the latter is rather lymphoma‐resistant. In order to identify the host background difference related to the lymphomagenesis, we performed a genetic cross study between these two strains. In the reciprocal F1 generation, the length of the lymphoma latent period was slightly but significantly longer in (SL/Ni XSL/Kh)F1 than in (SL/Kh × SL/Ni)F1 (P<0.05). The incidence of overall lymphomas and that of acute pre‐B lymphomas was lower in (SL/Ni × SL/Kh)F1 than in (SL/Kh × SL/Ni)F1, although the difference was not statistically significant. These observations indicate that an epigenetic maternal resistance mechanism of SL/Ni mice plays a role in the lymphoma resistance. Furthermore, in the backcross combinations without maternal influence of SL/Ni, we observed a genetic mechanism of lymphoma resistance: an SL/Ni‐derived recessive lymphoma‐resistance gene mapped in the proximal segment of Chr. 4. We named this gene nir‐1 (SL/Ni‐lymphoma resistance‐1). Thus, we have demonstrated epigenetic and genetic mechanisms of lymphoma resistance of the SL/Ni mouse with the high expression of endogenous ETV.

Expression of ecotropic murine leukemia virus in the brains of C58/M, DBA2/J, and in utero-infected CE/J mice.

In C58 and AKR mice, endogenous N-tropic, ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) proviruses become activated in rare cells during embryogenesis. Resultant replication-competent progeny viruses then actively infect a large number of cells throughout the fetus, including cells in the developing central nervous system. By in situ hybridization analyses, we have assessed the presence of ecotropic MuLV RNA in the brains of C58 mice as a function of age. Only a few ecotropic MuLV-positive cells were observed in weanling mice, but the number of positive cells in the brain increased progressively with increasing age of the mice. Throughout the lives of the mice, the ecotropic MuLV RNA-positive cells were primarily located in well-defined white-matter tracts of the brain (commissura anterior, corpus callosum, fimbria hippocampi, optical tract, and striatum) and of the spinal cord. Cells of the subventricular zone also expressed ecotropic MuLV RNA, and in older mice a small number of positive cells were present in the grey matter. Infection of endogenous ecotropic MuLV provirus-less CE/J mice in utero with ecotropic MuLV clone AKR-623 resulted in the extensive infection of brain cells. The regional distribution of ecotropic MuLV RNA-containing cells was the same as observed in the brains of C58 mice, in which cells became infected by endogenously activated virus, but the number of positive cells was higher.

Infection of central nervous system cells by ecotropic murine leukemia virus in C58 and AKR mice and in in utero-infected CE/J mice predisposes mice to paralytic infection by lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus

Certain mouse strains, such as AKR and C58, which possess N-tropic, ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) proviruses and are homozygous at the Fv-1n locus are specifically susceptible to paralytic infection (age-dependent poliomyelitis [ADPM]) by lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV). Our results provide an explanation for this genetic linkage and directly prove that ecotropic MuLV infection of spinal cord cells is responsible for rendering anterior horn neurons susceptible to cytocidal LDV infection, which is the cause of the paralytic disease. Northern (RNA) blot hybridization of total tissue RNA and in situ hybridization of tissue sections demonstrated that only mice harboring central nervous system (CNS) cells that expressed ecotropic MuLV were susceptible to ADPM. Our evidence indicates that the ecotropic MuLV RNA is transcribed in CNS cells from ecotropic MuLV proviruses that have been acquired by infection with exogenous ecotropic MuLV, probably during embryogenesis, the time when germ line proviruses in AKR and C58 mice first become activated. In young mice, MuLV RNA-containing cells were found exclusively in white-matter tracts and therefore were glial cells. An increase in the ADPM susceptibility of the mice with advancing age correlated with the presence of an increased number of ecotropic MuLV RNA-containing cells in the spinal cords which, in turn, correlated with an increase in the number of unmethylated proviruses in the DNA extracted from spinal cords. Studies with AKXD recombinant inbred strains showed that possession of a single replication-competent ecotropic MuLV provirus (emv-11) by Fv-1n/n mice was sufficient to result in ecotropic MuLV infection of CNS cells and ADPM susceptibility. In contrast, no ecotropic MuLV RNA-positive cells were present in the CNSs of mice carrying defective ecotropic MuLV proviruses (emv-3 or emv-13) or in which ecotropic MuLV replication was blocked by the Fv-1n/b or Fv-1b/b phenotype. Such mice were resistant to paralytic LDV infection. In utero infection of CE/J mice, which are devoid of any endogenous ecotropic MuLVs, with the infectious clone of emv-11 (AKR-623) resulted in the infection of CNS cells, and the mice became ADPM susceptible, whereas littermates that had not become infected with ecotropic MuLV remained ADPM resistant.

Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Responses to the Envelope Proteins of Endogenous Ecotropic and Mink Cytopathic Focus-Forming Murine Leukemia Viruses in H-2 b Mice

To study the possible role of immune selection in the in vivo generation of pathogenic recombinant murine leukemia viruses (MuLV), we have constructed recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVV) expressing the envelope genes of three MuLV: AKR623, MCF247, and MCF13. rVV expressing either AKR623 or MCF247 env could prime H-2 b mice for anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL responses, and stimulate the in vitro generation of CTL from the spleens of mice immunized with an AKR/Gross virus-positive lymphoma. MC57 (H-2 b) cells infected with either 623EnvVac or 247EnvVac could serve as targets for AKR/Gross virus-specific CTL. Cells infected with the rVV expressing MCF13 env, however, were lysed much less efficiently by these CTL. 13EnvVac was also ineffective in priming or stimulating retrovirus-specific CTL. Finally, experiments with synthetic peptides and minigenes suggested that the reduced immunogenicity of the MCF13 envelope protein likely resulted from a single amino acid substitution within an immunodominant epitope of the p15E (TM) protein. The region of MCF13 env that encodes this epitope is derived from an endogenous xenotropic virus, while the allelic sequences in MCF247 are of ecotropic virus origin. These results suggest the potential for recombination within the MuLV envelope gene to allow escape from host cellular immune responses.

An Immunodominant K b -Restricted Peptide from the p15E Transmembrane Protein of Endogenous Ecotropic Murine Leukemia Virus (MuLV) AKR623 That Restores Susceptibility of a Tumor Line to Anti-AKR/Gross MuLV Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

An Immunodominant <i> K ^b </i> -Restricted Peptide from the p15E Transmembrane Protein of Endogenous Ecotropic Murine Leukemia Virus (MuLV) AKR623 That Restores Susceptibility of a Tumor Line to Anti-AKR/Gross MuLV Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

An immunodominant Kb-restricted peptide from the p15E transmembrane protein of endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) AKR623 that restores susceptibility of a tumor line to anti-AKR/Gross MuLV cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

H-2b tumor cells expressing the endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus (EMV) induce an anti-AKR/Gross murine leukemia virus (MuLV) cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response in the C57BL/6 mouse strain. The EMV clone AKR623 has been used to infect SC.Kb fibroblast cells, resulting in SC.Kb/623 targets that are lysed by bulk anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL with a profile that is similar to that for the EMV+ AKR.H-2b SL1 tumor target. Anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL are restricted by the class I Kb antigen and do not cross-react with Friend-Moloney-Rauscher virus-positive targets. The AKR623 genome was searched by computer for coding sequences that fit the motif XXXX(FY)XX(VIML) for peptides that bind Kb. Of 30 octameric peptides identified, 12 that were unique to AKR623 and different from published Friend-Moloney-Rauscher sequences were synthesized and bound to EMV-negative SC.Kb cells, which were then assayed as targets against anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL. One peptide, peptide 12 (KSPWFTTL) from the p15E transmembrane protein, sensitized SC.Kb target cells to lysis by anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL with a profile similar to those seen for AKR.H-2b SL1 tumor targets and SC.Kb/623 fibroblast targets. Low concentrations of peptide were sufficient, the half-maximal lysis occurring at 10 to 100 pg/ml. SC.Kb/peptide 12 targets were recognized by the H-2b-restricted bulk CTL in a conventional class I Kb-restricted fashion. Unlabeled SC.Kb/peptide 12-pulsed targets were effective in competing with radiolabeled SC.Kb/623 targets for lysis by anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL. This finding is consistent with the notion that peptide 12 represents the dominant endogenously processed epitope recognized by these antiviral CTL. In addition, peptide 12 is immunogenic in that it could stimulate the in vitro generation of an anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL response from tumor-primed C57BL/6 responder spleen cells. Finally, the physiological relevance of peptide 12 was suggested by its ability to fully restore the recognition and lysis of AKR.H-2b SL1 clone 18-5 tumor cells, a naturally occurring variant tumor clone that is insusceptible to lysis by anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL. These data indicate that a virus-encoded antigen, represented by peptide 12, and not a nonviral tumor antigen, is the immunodominant epitope responsible for the recognition of EMV+ tumor cells by C57BL/6-derived anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL.

Major and Minor Kb-Restricted Epitopes Encoded by the Endogenous Ecotropic Murine Leukemia Virus AKR623 That Are Recognized by Anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL

C57BL/6 mice can generate a type-specific and class IH-2Kb-restricted CTL response against histocompatible AKR/Gross murine leukemia virus (MuLV) cell surface antigen positive (GCSA+) tumor cells. These anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL are also known to lyse SC.Kb/623 target cells expressing the molecular MuLV clone AKR623 (derived from the endogenous ecotropic MuLV provirus emv-11). To help identify AKR623 viral epitopes recognized by these CTL, four chimeric proviruses were constructed from two parental plasmids, pAKR623 and pAK7. It has been shown that SC.Kb/7 fibroblast targets expressing the emv-14-derived molecular clone AK7 are only poorly lysed by anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL. Data from experiments employing SC.Kb cells infected with the chimeras as targets against anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL supported the location of a previously identified immunodominant epitope located within the viral p15E transmembrane envelope protein, peptide TM134-141 (KSP-WFTTL). Furthermore, the use of Kb-motif-defined AKR623 encoded peptides together with data obtained using the chimeric viruses allowed the identification of three additional anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL epitopes. Peptides representing these epitopes, MA125-132 (RSALY-PAL), RT142-149 (SHRWYTVL), and RT456-463 (RMTHYQAM), are characterized herein with respect to their ability to confer lysis upon EMV- target cells and to stimulate tumor primed splenocytes in vitro. The identification and characterization of these additional epitopes allow for a better understanding of both the CTL response against GCSA+ tumor cells and the dysfunctional CTL response against EMV-14 and AK7.

Molecular cloning of infectious ecotropic murine leukemia virus AK7 from an emv-14-positive AKXL-5 mouse and the resistance of AK7 to recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

The AKXL-5 recombinant inbred mouse strain is positive for the endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus emv-14, the only emv present in its germ line. emv-14 is of particular interest because spleen cells expressing emv-14 virus escape recognition by anti-AKR/Gross virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We report here the isolation and characterization of a replication-competent emv clone, pAK7, derived from an AKXL-5 mouse. This clone is novel in that it encodes a variant ecotropic murine leukemia virus that, when expressed in SC.Kb target cells, fails to be recognized efficiently by anti-AKR/Gross virus cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The pAK7 clone can therefore be used to further probe mechanisms of escape from cell-mediated immunity.

Acquisition of two endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia viruses in distinct Asian wild mouse populations.

Wild mouse DNAs were analyzed for two types of endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs), Akv and Fv-4r-associated MuLV. Endogenous Akv viruses were found only in northern Chinese mice, Korean mice, and Japanese (Mus musculus molossinus) mice. The Fv-4r gene, which is a truncated endogenous MuLV with ecotropic interference properties, was carried by Southeast Asian (M. m. castaneus) mice, Korean mice, and M. m. molossinus. Sequences related to Fv-4r MuLV env were found only in M. m. castaneus. These findings suggest that endogenous Akv viruses were acquired by northern Chinese mice and that the Fv-4r gene or its related endogenous MuLVs were acquired independently by M. m. castaneus. The Fv-4r gene appears to have been generated hundreds of thousands of years ago, before the amplification of the Fv-4r-related endogenous MuLVs in M. m. castaneus. The coexistence of Akv viruses and the Fv-4r gene in M. m. molossinus may be explained by the hybrid origin of M. m. molossinus in crosses between northern Chinese mice and M. m. castaneus, as described in other articles. The absence of the Fv-4r-related endogenous MuLVs in M. m. molossinus may indicate that the ancestral mice of this subspecies either were an ancient type of M. m. castaneus that had acquired the Fv-4r gene but had not yet acquired the Fv-4r-related endogenous MuLVs or were a rare fraction of a mixed population of M. m. castaneus and northern Chinese mice.

Mechanism of escape of endogenous murine leukemia virus emv-14 from recognition by anti-AKR/Gross virus cytolytic T lymphocytes

It was previously shown that spleen cells from endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus emv-14+ AKXL-5 mice fail to stimulate an anti-AKR/Gross virus cytolytic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response in a mixed lymphocyte culture with primed C57BL/6 responder spleen cells, whereas spleen cells from AKXL strains carrying the very similar emv-11 provirus do stimulate a response (Green and Graziano, Immunogenetics 23:106-110, 1986). We wished to determine whether the lack of response with AKXL-5 spleen cells was at the level of recognition between effector cell and target cell and whether the relevant mutation was within the emv-14 provirus. It is shown here that EMV-negative SC-1 fibroblast cells transfected with the major histocompatibility complex class I Kb gene and infected with virus isolated from the AKXL-5 strain (SC.Kb/5 cells) were not lysed by H-2b-restricted anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL. SC.Kb cells infected with virus isolated from emv-11+ strains, however, were efficiently lysed by anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL, indicating that there is nothing intrinsic to EMV-infected SC.Kb cells that would prevent them from being recognized and lysed efficiently by anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL. Analysis of virus expression for the infected SC.Kb cells by XC plaque assay and by flow cytometry indicated that emv-14 virus expression for SC.Kb/5 cells was not significantly different from that for emv-11-containing SC.Kb/9 or SC.Kb/21 cells. These data show that the mutation responsible for the lack of CTL recognition and lysis is at the level of recognition between target cell and effector cell. Furthermore, these data strongly suggest that the mutation is within the emv-14 genome. Flow cytometry experiments with monoclonal antibodies against a number of viral determinants indicated that there was no gross mutation detectable in the viral determinants analyzed. The data suggest that the relevant mutation may be a point mutation or a small insertion or deletion within a coding sequence that is critical for CTL recognition.

Age-dependent poliomyelitis of mice: expression of endogenous retrovirus correlates with cytocidal replication of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus in motor neurons

The widespread presence of endogenous retroviruses in the genomes of animals and humans has suggested that these viruses may be involved in both normal and abnormal developmental processes. Previous studies have indicated the involvement of endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) in the development of age-dependent poliomyelitis caused by infection of old C58 or AKR mice by lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV). The only genetic components which segregate with susceptibility to LDV-induced paralytic disease are multiple proviral copies of ecotropic MuLV and the permissive allele, at the Fv-1 locus, for N-tropic, ecotropic virus replication (Fv-1n/n). Using in situ hybridization and Northern (RNA) blot hybridization, we have correlated the expression of the endogenous MuLV, both temporally and spatially, with LDV infection of anterior horn motor neurons and the development of paralysis. Our data indicate that treatment of 6- to 7-month-old C58/M mice with cyclophosphamide, which renders these mice susceptible to LDV-induced paralytic disease, results in transient increases in ecotropic MuLV RNA levels in motor neurons throughout the spinal cord. Peripheral inoculation of C58/M mice with LDV, at the time of elevated MuLV RNA levels, results in a rapid spread of LDV to some spinal cord motor neurons. LDV infections then spread slowly but progressively throughout the spinal cord, involving an increasing number of motor neurons. LDV replication is cytocidal and results in neuron destruction and paralysis of the infected animals 2 to 3 weeks postinfection. The slow replication of LDV in the spinal cord contrasts sharply with the rapid replication of LDV in macrophages, the normal host cells for LDV, during the acute phase of infection. The data indicate that the interaction between the endogenous MuLV with the generally nonpathogenic murine togavirus LDV occurs at the level of the motor neuron. We discuss potential mechanisms for the novel dual-virus etiology of age-dependent poliomyelitis of mice.