Murine Leukemia Virus Mixture Research Articles

Analysis of the helper virus in murine retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency syndrome: evidence for immunoselection of the dominant and subdominant CTL epitopes of the BM5 ecotropic virus.

In genetically susceptible strains, such as C57BL/6 (B6) mice, LP-BM5 causes murine AIDS (MAIDS). LP-BM5 is a complex mixture of murine leukemia viruses (MuLV) that includes replication competent ecotropic (BM5eco) and mink cell focus inducing (MCF), and replication defective (BM5d) MuLV. At present, for the BM5eco virus, sequence information on only the gag region is available. In this paper, we describe for the first time the sequencing of the entire BM5eco viral genome as well as analysis of homology with two other previously sequenced and well-characterized MuLVs, Emv-11 and Emv-2, the latter constituting the parental virus for BM5eco. We propose that the detailed sequence comparisons herein provide cogent evidence that BM5eco utilizes variations in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) epitopes as an immune escape mechanism. This CTL evasion mechanism may contribute substantially to the underlying prototypic susceptibility of B6 mice to LP-BM5-induced MAIDS.

Characterization of a novel murine retrovirus mixture that facilitates hematopoiesis.

A new virus previously arose in BALB/c females mated repeatedly to C57BL/6 (B6) males and then injected with fixed, activated B6 male spleen cells (V. S. Ter-Grigorov, O. Krifuks, E. Liubashevsky, A. Nyska, Z. Trainin, and V. Toder, Nat. Med. 3:37-41, 1997). In the present study, BALB/cJ mice inoculated with virus-containing plasma from affected mice developed splenomegaly, which was caused by increased numbers of Sca-1(+) Lin(-) hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and their differentiated progeny. Biological and molecular analyses of a new virus revealed a mixture of murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs). These MuLVs comprised ecotropic and mink lung cell focus-forming (MCF) virus classes and are termed Rauscher-like MuLVs because they bear numerous similarities to the ecotropic and MCF viruses of the Rauscher MuLV complex but do not include a spleen focus-forming virus. The ecotropic virus component alone transferred some disease characteristics, while MCF virus alone did not. Thus, we have described a novel virus mixture, termed Rauscher-like MuLV, that causes an increase in hematopoiesis due to activation of pluripotent HSC. Experiments using mice and a protocol that replicated the pregnancy and immunization strategy of the original experiment demonstrated that endogenous BALB/c mouse ecotropic and xenotropic MuLVs are activated by these treatments. Emv1 was expressed in the spleens of multiparous mice but not in those of virgin mice, and Bxv1Emv1-pseudotyped MuLVs were recovered following injection of fixed, activated B6 cells. Thus, multiple pregnancies and allostimuli appear to have provided the signals required for activation of and recombination among endogenous viruses and could have resulted in generation of the Rauscher-like MuLV mixture.

Characterization of learning and memory deficits in C57BL/6 mice infected with LP-BM5, a murine model of AIDS

Mice infected with an immunosuppressive murine leukemia virus mixture, LP-BM5 show a profound immunosuppression described as murine acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In the present study, we characterized learning and memory deficits in C57BL/6 mice infected with LP-BM5. Spontaneous alternation behavior in a Y-maze and latent learning (spatial attention) in a water-finding test, as well as spatial reference and reversal learning in a water maze test, were significantly impaired in the mice infected with LP-BM5. These deficits appeared in the absence of any motoric and visual impairment as assessed by open-field, rotarod and visual water maze tests. These results suggest that cognitive functions are impaired in the mice infected with LP-BM5. Furthermore, LP-BM5-infected mice may be useful as a model for the AIDS dementia complex.

Competitive PCR for Quantification of BM5d Proviral DNA in Mice with AIDS

Murine AIDS in C57BL/6 mice is caused by a unique mixture of murine leukemia viruses. We report the use of a competitive PCR to detect and quantitate BM5d proviral DNA. This assay allowed discrimination among endogenous wild-type murine retroviruses and BM5d sequences. Furthermore, the method was subsequently used to evaluate the amount of BM5d in infected mice and in infected AZT (zidovudine)-treated mice, providing an effective way to quantitatively evaluate drug efficacy in the murine AIDS model.

Heterosexual transmission of a murine AIDS virus.

Heterosexual transmission of a murine leukemia virus mixture named LP-BM5 MuLV, which is known as the murine AIDS virus, was investigated. Our results indicated that the heterosexual transmission of LP-BM5 MuLV occurs in both directions with high frequency and that the frequencies of virus transmission in the cervix and penis are higher than those in other genital organs. The results suggested that infection by LP-BM5 MuLV via heterosexual transmission may initially take place at particular retrovirus-sensitive sites (cells) in the genital organs.

Cloning, expression and genetic mapping of the mouse SH3 domain protein, SH3D2B.

The LP-BM5 mixture of murine leukemia viruses causes an immunodeficiency syndrome in mice termed MAIDS (reviewed in Morse et al. 1992). The etiological agent in the mixture is a replication-defective virus (BM5def) that encodes only a single protein. This protein is a variant of the normal viral Gag precursor that is cleaved into the internal virion capsid proteins MA (matrix, p15), p12, CA (capsid, p30), and NC (nucleocapsid, p10). The BM5def Pr60Gag differs from the Gag polyprotein of nonpathogenic ecotropic virus in the carboxyterminus of MA and throughout much of p12. In an attempt to understand how these altered Gag products contribute to the development of immunodeficiency, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify cellular proteins that interact with the Pr60Gag (Kim et al. submitted). This approach identified several genes, with one, designated Y1, represented in 10 independent captures. Of the 10 yeast two-hybrid clones, 8 were identical in length (1.45 kbp), and 2 were longer (1.6 and 1.8 kbp). One of the 8 clones (Y1) was sequenced in its entirety, and the 58 ends of the two longer clones were sequenced until the sequence overlapped with that of Y1. Searches of the databanks identified homology with a mouse cDNA, SH3D2B (accession #U58885; Sparks et al. 1996). The composite sequence corresponds to bp 258 to 1966 of SH3D2B, and therefore lacks the 58-most 0.2 kb of SH3D2B, but includes the C-terminal SH3 domain. Comparison of the two sequences identified only two bp differences over a stretch of 1709 bp: a C → T transition resulting in a change of SH3D2B AA 285 from Ala to Val, and, at SH3D2B nt 1963, a T → G change in the 38 untranslated region. Since Y1 was cloned from a C57BL/Ka T-cell lymphoma and SH3D2B was obtained from an NIH Swiss library, it is likely that these two amino acid differences represent polymorphisms between strains. Recently the human homology of SH3D2B, termed EEN (extra eleven nineteen) by the authors, was found to be part of a novel MLL fusion protein in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (So et al. 1997). EEN is part of a family of genes that contain a C-terminal SH3 domain. This suggests that alterations in SH3D2B expression may contribute to cell transformation. In addition, the human homolog has been independently cloned by PCR with degenerate primers designed to amplify SH3 domain-containing cDNAs (Giachino et al. 1997). These authors termed the SH3D2B human homolog SH3GL1. A multitissue RNA blot (Promega, Madison, Wis.) was hybridized with a nick-translated 1.4-kb XhoI Y1 insert as probe. Transcripts of 2.4 kb were detected at high levels in testis and at low levels in all other tissues examined (Fig. 1). This is comparable to the 2.6-kb transcript reported to be the predominant transcript in human tissues with EEN as probe (So et al. 1997), and to the 2.7-kb single transcript found ubiquitously in human tissues with SH3GL1 as probe (Giachino et al. 1997). Sh3d2b was genetically mapped by analysis of two sets of genetic crosses: (NFS/N or C58/J × M. m. musculus) × M. m. musculus (Kozak et al. 1990), (NFS/N × M. spretus) × M. spretus or C58/J (Adamson et al. 1991). DNAs from the progeny of these crosses have been typed for over 1000 markers, which map to all 19 autosomes and the X Chromosome (Chr) including the Chr 17 markers Tik (T viral integration site), Stp2 (sulfotransferase, phenol preferring 2), C3 (complement component 3), Trp53-ps (transformation related protein 53 pseudogene), and Hprt-ps1 (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase—pseudogene 1). The probes and polymorphisms used to type these markers have been described previously (Miyazaki et al. 1995; Khan et al. 1995). The additional locus Vav (vav oncogene) was typed as a ScaI polymorphism in the M. spretus crosses and as a BglII polymorphism in the M. m. musculus crosses with a mouse Vav probe obtained from Dr. I.J. Lee (NIAAA, Bethesda, Md.). The Y1 insert was used as hybridization probe on Southern blots and identified EcoRI fragments of 17.5 kb in NFS/N and C58/J and 10.5 kb in M. m. musculus, and SstI fragments of 13.0

Modulation of murine AIDS-related pathology by concurrent antibody treatment and coinfection with Leishmania major.

Infection of C57BL/6 mice with a mixture of murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) designated LP-BM5 MuLV leads to a disease characterized by progressive immunodeficiency and lymphoproliferation, known as murine AIDS (MAIDS). The development of MAIDS is associated with increased B-cell lymphoblast proliferation, but there is reason to believe that T-cell function and, particularly, T-cell-derived cytokines may also play a role. We have previously shown that concurrent infection with Leishmania major (which induces a strongly polarized Th1 response in C57BL/6 mice) and LP-BM5 MuLV modulates the disease induced by both infections. Here we show by treatment of mice with anticytokine antibodies that this modulation is largely exerted through the balance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Infected mice treated with antibodies to interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 exhibited a delayed development of MAIDS-related pathology and maintained T-cell responsiveness longer than mice treated with control antibody. Gamma interferon induced by coinfection with L. major synergized with anti-IL-4 treatment to inhibit the development of MAIDS pathology. Conversely, treatment with anti-gamma interferon led to a significant increase in splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy and slightly exacerbated loss of T-cell function. These data suggest that the production of Th2-associated cytokines may promote MAIDS pathology, while Th1-associated cytokines may help control the disease.

Control of immunodeficiency and lymphoproliferation in mouse AIDS: studies of mice deficient in CD8+ T cells or perforin.

CD8+ T cells were previously shown to be important in preventing lymphoproliferation and immunodeficiency following infection of murine AIDS (MAIDS)-resistant mice with the LP-BM5 mixture of murine leukemia viruses. To further evaluate the mechanisms contributing to MAIDS resistance, we studied mice lacking CD8+ T cells or deficient in perforin due to knockout of the beta2-microglobulin (beta2M) or perforin gene, respectively. In contrast to wild-type, MAIDS-resistant controls, B10.A mice homozygous for the beta2M mutation and B10.D2 mice homozygous for the perforin mutation were diagnosed as having MAIDS by 5 to 8 weeks after infection by the criteria of lymphoproliferation, impaired proliferative responses to mitogens, and changes in cell populations as judged by histopathology and flow cytometry. Unexpectedly, there was no progression of lymphoproliferation through 24 weeks, even though immune functions were severely compromised. Expression of the defective virus responsible for MAIDS was enhanced in spleens of the knockouts in comparison with wild-type mice. These results demonstrate that perforin-dependent functions of CD8+ T cells contribute to MAIDS resistance but that other, non-CD8-dependent mechanisms are of equal or greater importance.

Alpha/beta interferons increase host resistance to murine AIDS

Murine AIDS (MAIDS) is caused by a defective retrovirus present in the LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus mixture. Strains of inbred mice differ in resistance to MAIDS development; some are susceptible (e.g., C57BL/6), while others are resistant (e.g., CBA and B10.BR). As an early block to viral replication in resistant mice has been demonstrated previously by PCR studies, we postulated that alpha/beta interferons (IFN-alpha/beta) may be involved in resistance to MAIDS. Susceptible C57BL/6 mice infected with LP-BM5 were treated with IFN-alpha/beta or Newcastle disease virus. Newcastle disease virus induces high endogenous IFN-alpha/beta production in mice. Both treatments delayed the development of MAIDS, as assessed by splenomegaly and T- and B-cell proliferation. In addition, an IFN-alpha/beta response was detected by reverse transcription-PCR and dot blotting 3, 6, and 9 h after LP-BM5 infection in resistant mice but not in susceptible mice. These results suggest that the ability to produce IFN-alpha/beta in response to LP-BM5 infection may contribute to host resistance to MAIDS.

Resistance to murine AIDS in offspring of mice infected with LP-BM5. Role of CD8 T cells.

The murine-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS) is caused by a mixture of murine leukemia viruses (LP-BM5 MuLV). The influence of perinatal contact with retroviruses or their Ags on the response to infection was tested by infecting with LP-BM5 (MuLV) the adult offspring of mice with MAIDS. These offspring were resistant to disease after virus challenge. Most of them were free of defective viral DNA, and even those with molecular evidence of infection had lymphoid cells with a lower infectious capacity to cause MAIDS in naive recipients. No ecotropic, xenotropic, or mink cell focus-forming (MCF) virus expression was found at the age of 5 wk, which is the time of LP-BM5 (MuLV) challenge. However, at 22 wk of age, one-half of the offspring from MAIDS mothers had ecotropic virus-expressing cells in their spleens. At the time of suckling, offspring from infected mothers had enhanced percentages of B cells and CD4 and CD8 T cells in the spleen, possibly followed by a slight persistent splenomegaly. These results suggest that immune reactivity, rather than tolerance to the virus, is responsible for resistance to disease after challenge. The offspring of MAIDS mice could clear the virus after challenge. This clearance was mediated by CD8 T cells, as continuous CD8 T cell depletion initiated at the time of viral challenge abrogated the resistance of these mice to MAIDS.

Ethanol as a possible cofactor in the development of murine AIDS.

Chronic ethanol (EtOH) abuse in humans leads to a variety of immunomodulatory events that can alter resistance to a number of infectious agents. Whether alcohol abuse affects the susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus infection or the subsequent development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a matter of extreme importance; however, available information in humans or animal models is limited. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic EtOH feeding in mice on the development of immunodeficiency in the murine model of AIDS (MAIDS). C57BI/6 mice were placed on the Lieber-DeCarli liquid EtOH diet (25% or 31% total caloric intake) or a nutrient-matched isocaloric liquid control diet. Seven days later, mice were infected with the LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus mixture, and groups of infected and noninfected mice were assayed at defined time points postinfection for antigen-specific and nonspecific immune responses. In the absence of retroviral infection, chronic EtOH feeding (5-8 weeks) led to reductions in spleen weights, compared with isocaloric controls. In spite of reduced spleen size, mitogenic responses of spleen cells to concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were elevated in EtOH-fed mice, as compared with mice fed the control diet. Chronic EtOH feeding also enhanced the allogeneic mixed lymphocyte response and increased antigen-specific priming of both B-cells and CD4+ T-cells to the antigen, sheep red blood cells. In MAIDS-infected mice, chronic EtOH feeding delayed but did not prevent the onset of virus-induced immunodeficiency and MAIDS-induced autoantibody synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal models recapitulate aspects of HIV/CNS disease.

Neurobehavioral and pathological data indicate that the central nervous system (CNS) becomes infected with HIV-1 soon after the virus enters the body. However, neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 infection is difficult to investigate because the brain parenchyma is not accessible to sampling during the course of AIDS. The second compartment of the CNS, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), is accessible to sampling but how changes in the CSF relate to the changes in the parenchyma is poorly understood. Thus, knowledge of the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 infection predominantly stems from either postmortem or in vitro studies. This raises the need for animal models of HIV infection of the CNS. Such models have been developed and are briefly reviewed here. The models faithfully recapitulate some aspects of the HIV/CNS disease. Appropriate neuropathological changes and neurobehavioral dysfunction (e.g., cognitive and motor deficits) occur in SIV-infected macaques. Central sensory electrophysiological changes and sleep disturbances occur in FIV-infected cats. Infection of the brain and behavioral changes comparable to some of the changes seen in humans occur in mice infected with a mixture of murine leukemia viruses. Genetically immunodeficient mice (e.g., SCID) accept HIV-infected human organs and or cell grafts. Evidence summarized here indicates that these HuSCID animals undergo neuropathological changes similar to those observed in brains of individuals who died with AIDS. Thus, presently available animal models provide an opportunity to investigate HIV/CNS disease, and to develop and test therapeutic interventions to prevent or cure the disease.

Striatal met-enkephalin and substance P levels are decreased in mice infected with the LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus.

Mice infected with the LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus mixture develop severe immunosuppression and an encephalopathy characterized by spatial learning deficits. Twelve weeks after infection of C57BL/6J mice with LP-BM5, significant (50-60%) reductions in Met-enkephalin and substance P levels were observed in the striatum, whereas somatostatin levels were unchanged. In addition, a 39% decrease in hypothalamic substance P concentrations was observed, with no alteration in Metenkephalin levels. The apparent selectivity of the decrease in neuropeptide concentrations indicates that a functional alteration of the primary striatal efferent neurons occurs in this infection, which may contribute to the impairment of spatial learning observed in these mice. Moreover, this decrease in striatal neuropeptide levels is similar to the neuropathological changes in basal ganglia observed in HIV-infected individuals and is consistent with previous studies suggesting that the LP-BM5-infected mouse may serve as a useful model of AIDS dementia.

Influence of H-2 class II antigens on the development of murine AIDS.

Abstract Inbred strains of mice differ markedly in their relative susceptibility to the development of lymphoproliferation and immunodeficiency, a syndrome termed mouse AIDS (MAIDS), after infection with the LP-BM5 mixture of murine leukemia viruses (MuLV). The etiologic virus in this mixture is replication defective (BM5def) and encodes only a variant gag protein. Genetic determinants of resistance and susceptibility to induction of MAIDS reside both within and outside the MHC. In strains with C57BL background genes, the MHC haplotypes associated with resistance to disease include d and a, whereas haplotypes b, s, and q are associated with sensitivity. Previous studies showed that MHC class I genes (H-2Dd, H-2Ld) mapping in the D end of H-2 and other genes mapping proximal to the D end determine resistance to MAIDS. This paper examines the nature of these non-D end MHC genes using assays of MHC recombinant and transgenic mice. We demonstrate that expression of E alpha d confers significant resistance to MAIDS, even in mice that do not express H-2Dd/H-2Ld. Unexpectedly, we found that E alpha polymorphisms can significantly influence resistance, with H-2b mice bearing E alpha d as a transgene having greater resistance to MAIDS than mice bearing an E alpha k transgene. E alpha d-mediated resistance to MAIDS was associated with decreased levels of the BM5def genome in splenic DNA, suggesting that E alpha genes exert their effect by enhancing antiviral activity.

T-deficient transmembrane signaling in CD4+ T cells of retroviral-induced immune-deficient mice.

The defective virus found in the LP-BM5 mixture of murine leukemia viruses induces a severe immune deficiency disease in C57BL/6 mice that is characterized by the activation and expansion of T and B cells that become unresponsive to normal immune stimuli. The nature of the biochemical lesion in these defective lymphocyte populations remains unknown. Flow cytometric analysis of the T cell population in infected animals has demonstrated expansion of both CD4+ and CD8+ subsets. Despite chronic expansion in vivo, CD4+ T cells by wk 4 postinfection failed to up-regulate cell surface IL-2R expression, produced IL-2, or proliferate in vitro in response to either Con A, Staphylococcal enterotoxin super-antigens, or anti-CD3 stimulation. Exogenous IL-2 did not restore the proliferative response and also failed to up-regulate IL-R expression on CD4+ T cells from infected mice, even though basal IL-2R expression was initially elevated compared to normals. In contrast, CD4+ T cells from infected mice could be induced to proliferate by stimulation with PMA and ionomycin resulting in IL-2R up-regulation, IL-2 production, and proliferation. Moreover, proliferation could also be induced by anti-CD3 plus PMA, although anti-CD3 plus ionomycin was without effect. These studies suggest that chronic expansion of CD4+ T cells in infected mice is probably not maintained by normal TCR signaling, which appears defective in these cells. In addition, the lesion in biochemical signaling appears to result in defective activation of protein kinase C, which can be overcome by direct activation with PMA.

CD4+ subset regulation in viral infection. Preferential activation of Th2 cells during progression of retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency in mice.

Progressive lymphoproliferation and increasingly severe immunodeficiency are prominent features of a syndrome, designated mouse AIDS, which develops in susceptible strains of mice infected with the mixture of murine leukemia viruses, termed LP-BM5. Development of splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, caused primarily by increases in B cell immunoblasts, requires the presence of CD4+ T cells and is assumed to be mediated by lymphokines produced by these cells inasmuch as progression of disease is markedly inhibited by treatment of infected mice with cyclosporin A. Studies of spleen cells from infected mice revealed spontaneous production of cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) characteristic of Th0 (or a mixture of Th1 and Th2) T helper cells at 1 wk after infection. At later times, IFN-gamma and IL-2, characteristic products of Th1 helper clones, were expressed poorly, either spontaneously or after stimulation of cells with Con A. In contrast, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10, cytokines typically synthesized by Th2 cells, were produced in response to Con A or spontaneously through 18 wk post-infection. Increased serum IgE levels and enhanced IL-10 mRNA expression were consistent with expression of Th2 cytokines at biologically significant levels in vivo. Selective depletion of T cell subsets before stimulation with Con A showed that CD4+ T cells were the primary source of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and, to a lesser extent, IFN-gamma in spleens and lymph nodes of normal or infected mice. These results suggest that persistent activation of CD4+ T cells with the lymphokine profile of Th2 helper clones is responsible for chronic B cell stimulation, down-regulation of Th1 cytokines, and impaired CD8+ T cell function in mouse AIDS. This provides the first demonstration that, like many parasitic infections, viruses encoding potent antigenic stimuli can markedly affect the balance of Th subset expression.

Expression of defective virus and cytokine genes in murine AIDS

A syndrome characterized by severe immunodeficiency and lymphoproliferation develops in susceptible strains of mice infected with a mixture of murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) designated LP-BM5 MuLV. The etiologic agent in this mixture has been shown to be a replication-defective virus (BM5d) with a 4.8-kb genome that required replication-competent helper viruses, primarily ecotropic (BM5e), for cell-to-cell spread in the host. In the present study, we studied the expression of BM5d and BM5e in tissues of infected mice at various times after inoculation in relation to the expression of cytokine genes that may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disorder. Northern (RNA) analysis of total RNA showed that BM5d was expressed at significant levels in lymphoid tissues within 1 week of infection and that the levels of expression increased with time after inoculation. By 16 weeks postinfection, BM5d was expressed in all tissues examined. Expression of BM5e was relatively more restricted to lymphoid tissues and was detected at lower levels than expression of BM5d at early times after infection, but this virus was expressed in all tissues by 16 weeks. Infection with the virus mixture was associated with constitutive expression of tumor necrosis factor in all tissues examined and of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in lymphoid tissues within 1 week of infection, and at later times with widespread expression of these cytokines and gamma interferon. Also, the levels of interferon regulatory factor 1 mRNA were significantly increased in all infected tissues during the infection. In contrast, expression of IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6 was not detectable by Northern analysis of the respective mRNAs in any infected tissue at early or late times postinfection.

Defective virus is associated with induction of murine retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency syndrome.

C57BL/6 mice infected with a mixture of murine leukemia viruses (MuLV) develop a syndrome characterized by lymphoproliferation and profound immunodeficiency. Analyses of this viral mixture (LP-BM5 MuLV) showed that it includes replication-competent ecotropic and mink cell focus-inducing MuLV and defective viruses with genome sizes of 3.8-6.5 kilobases. The ecotropic and mink cell focus-inducing MuLV biologically cloned from the mixture did not induce disease, whereas viral preparations containing the ecotropic MuLV and 4.8-kilobase defective virus were active. Cells producing the 4.8-kilobase defective virus expressed an unusual gag-encoded polyprotein of Mr 60,000.

Retroviral induction of acute lymphoproliferative disease and profound immunosuppression in adult C57BL/6 mice.

We have shown that a mixture of murine leukemia viruses (MuLV) causes the acute onset of lymphoproliferation and immunosuppression when injected into adult C57BL/6 mice. The ecotropic/MCF (mink cell focus-inducing) mixture of MuLV stimulates polyclonal B lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation to antibody-secreting cells. Serum Ig levels are elevated for all isotypes except IgA. The viral infection leads to a rapid decline in T lymphocyte responses to mitogens and alloantigens, as well as a decrease in helper cell activity. Specific antibody responses to both T-dependent and T-independent antigens are impaired, and the response of B lymphocytes to mitogens is abolished. The profound immunosuppression seems to be due to the MuLV-induced polyclonal activation of lymphocytes. No active suppression of normal lymphocyte responses by cells from virus-infected mice was observed. The disease induced by the LP-BM5 MuLV isolate thus seems a promising model for the study of lymphocyte activation and the mechanisms of retrovirus-induced immunosuppression.

Enhanced Susceptibility of Virus-Infected Fibroblasts to Cytostasis Mediated by Peritoneal Exudate Cells

Abstract Murine (BALB/c) starch-induced adherent peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) exert a cytostatic effect on various tissue culture cell lines. The cytostatic activity resides in the adherent cell fraction of the PEC that, after 24 hr in culture, is devoid of T and B lymphocytes. No significant difference in the degree of inhibition of incorporation of DNA precursors upon interaction with PEC could be detected with transformed cell lines, virus-infected non-transformed cell lines, and their normal counterparts as targets. Recently explanted embryo fibroblasts are relatively resistant to PEC-mediated cytostasis. Upon in vitro transformation with the murine sarcoma virus murine leukemia virus mixture (MuSV/MuLV), the targets become more susceptible to PEC-mediated cytostasis. Infection with the nontransforming virus MuLV leads to a similar increase in susceptibility. The same pattern of differential susceptibility was obtained with embryo fibroblasts from four different strains of mice, indicating that there is no requirement for H-2 compatibility between effector and target cells. No PEC-specific 51Cr release could be detected during the 24 hr of effector-target cell interaction, indicating that the effect involves primarily cytostasis. Embryo fibroblasts infected with Sendai virus or influenza virus were also remarkably sensitized toward PEC-mediated cytostasis. The fact that inactivated Sendai virus is as active in sensitizing the targets as the active virus suggests that primary membrane reorganization events that follow virus adsorption may be a sufficient perturbation leading to enhanced susceptibility. Rat and hamster embryo fibroblasts show the same pattern of enhanced susceptibility upon interaction with inactive Sendai virus. Judged from indirect radioimmunoassay of adsorption of anti-type-C viral antigen sera, BALB/c embryo fibroblasts did not exhibit surface type-C virus specific antigens, nor did infection with the Sendai or influenza viruses induce activation of endogenous type-C viruses. The above suggests that transformation and a major alteration in the growth pattern of cells are not a prerequisite for the enhanced susceptibility of embryo fibroblasts to PEC-mediated cytostasis; rather, that membrane perturbations introduced by nontransforming unrelated viruses provide a sufficient change rendering the cells more prone to cytostasis.