Antigenic properties of endogenous type-C viruses from spontaneously transformed clones of BALB-3T3

Host range and oncogenicity studies of the murine myeloma MOPC-315 type-C retrovirus

The biological features of an endogenous type-C RNA tumor virus released by the murine plasmacytoma MOPC-315 were determined. The virus was found to be pure ecotropic and, according to its capability to infect both NIH/3T3 and BALB/3T3 cells, it was established as an NB tropic virus. This tropism became more pronounced as a consequence of multiple passage in balb/3T3 cells. In view of the ability of myeloma viruses to efficiently infect BALB/c cells, their possible role in myeloma induction is considered.

Endogenous RNA tumor viruses are activated during chemical induction of murine plasmacytomas

Plasmacytomas are induced in BALB/c mice by the intraperitoneal injection of pristane (2,6,10,14-tetra-methylpentadecane) after a latent period of six months and more [Anderson, P. N. & Potter, M. (1969) Nature 222, 994-995]. Spleen cells mesenteric lymph node cells, thoracic lymph node cells, and peritoneal exudate cells were prepared from pristane-treated and control uninjected BALB/c mice during the course of a 10-month period, and these cell suspensions were tested for the release of infectious murine leukemia viruses. Endogenous ecotropic and xenotropic murine leukemia viruses were expressed in pristane-treated mice during the latter part of the tumor induction period, in those cell populations in which transformed plasma cells appear, namely, peritoneal exudate cells and thoracic lymph node cells. The significance of preferential expression of both ecotropic and xenotropic murine leukemia virus in target cell populations following the administration of a carcinogen is discussed in terms of the possible formation of an oncogenic variant virus.

A Murine Oncornavirus Marker in Adenovirus 7-Transformed Mouse Cells

The presence of oncornavirus particles in BALB/c mouse cells transformed by adenovirus 7 was investigated. The particles detected had a buoyant density of 1.16 g/cm3; both p30 and adenovirus T-specific immunofluorescence was demonstrated in the cell cytoplasm. No C-particles were shown by the electron microscope.

Host range studies of FLOPC-1 murine myeloma C particles

The host range of the C particle produced by FLOPC-1 myeloma cells, FLOPC-1 murine myeloma-associated virus (FL-MuMAV), was assessed in terms of its ability to productively infect and/or induce new viral antigens in a variety of different cell lines. Production of C particle-like structures by cells exposed to FL-MuMAV) was determined by incorporation of [3H]uridine into particles with a density of 1.16 g/ml and/or measurement of RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity in concentrated culture medium. to FL-MuMAV was capable of infecting NIH/3T3, normal rat kidney (NRK) cell, BALB/c 3T3, and the A31 clone of BALB/3T3 cells but not rabbit cell line, SIRC. Thus, it is an N, B-tropic murine virus as replication in NRK cells has been shown not to delineate a group of murine viruses with a separate host range (M. M. Lieber, C. J. Sherr, and G. J. Todero, 1974). Further neoantigens, reactive with anti-FL-MuMAV serum, were detected on infected cells. Production of the MuMAV-like particle and MuMAV-associated cell antigens in infected NIH/3T3 and NRK cells persisted for three subcultures. The limited production could not be explained by the lack of an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase or high-molecular-weight RNA as the particles possessed both of these properties. The particles produced by infected NIH/3T3 or NRK cells were antigenically and physicochemically similar to FL-MuMAV and not K-MuLV. The MuMAV-like particles produced by infected NIH/3T3 were capable of limited replication in NIH/3T3 and and BALB/3T3 cells, whereas NRK-MuMAV replicated for a limited period in NIH/3T3, NRK, and SIRC cells; i.e., they had a different host range than FL-MuMAV. The particles produced by infected BALB/3T3 and A31 cells had the same host range as FL-MuMAV. In certain situations, isotopically labeled particles with a density of 1.16 g/ml were produced which appeared to lack RNA-dependent DNA polymerase.

Quantitative assay for transformation of 3T3 cells by herpes simplex virus type 2

The interaction of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) with Swiss/3T3 cells was investigated. Virus-induced cytopathic effects developed in the absence of production of infectious virus. HSV-2 inactivated with UV light (2, 4, 6, and 8 min) also induced cell death in the absence of virus replication. Cell death was not detectable after infection by HSV-2 that had been inactivated by UV irradiation for 10, 12, and 14 min. 3T3 cells infected with UV-inactivated virus (10 and 12 min) continued to replicate past the contact-inhibited monolayer normally associated with these cells. Infection of 3T3 cells with UV-irradiated USV-2 also induced the development of transformed foci. Transformed cells with an epithelioid of fibroblastoid morphology were identified and isolated. All HSV-2-transformed cell lines contained HSV-2-specific antigens detectable by immunofluorescence techniques. The maximum frequency of HSV-2-induced transformation was 3 times 105 PFU per transformed focus, and the observed transformation could be inhibited by pretreatment of the virus with specific antiserum. No type C particles were detected within five cell culture passages after transformation by HSV-2. Type C virus particles were detected after 10 cell culture passages of the HSV-2-transformed cell lines.

Clonal character of F1 hybrid lymphocyte subset recognition of parental cells in one-way mixed lymphocyte cultures

Proliferation of F(1) hybrid lymphocytes in mixed lymphocyte cultures is stimulated by mitomycin-blocked parental cells. The demonstration of this phenomenon using F(1) hybrids derived from congenic lines of mice establishes that the stimulation is controlled by genes in or closely linked to the major histocompatibility locus chromosome region. In agreement with the finding that tumor-bearing mice have an increased capacity for primary alloantigen recognition, it was observed that the F(1) hybrid response to parent was also augmented by tumor bearing. Chromosomal analysis of dividing cells in one-way mixed cultures confirms that F(1) cells, and not the blocked parental cells, enter mitosis. Stimulation of F(1) cells by a soluble mediator liberated by the parental cells was not observed and mitomycin blocking of parental cells seems to be a completely effective blocking agent ensuring that parental cells can not enter DNA synthesis. The specificity and clonal nature of F(1) recognition of parent was demonstrated using a 5-bromodeoxyuridine-suicide procedure. Distinct clones of lymphocytes in F(1) spleen cell populations seem to recognize one or the other parent, but not both, in such experiments. These observations and others in tumor systems suggest that most or all heterozygous organisms may possess potentially self-reactive clones of lymphocytes.

Simian virus 40 DNA sequences in DNA of healthy adult mice derived from preimplantation blastocysts injected with viral DNA

Explanted mouse blastocysts were microinjected in the blastocoel cavity with simian virus 40 (SV40) viral DNA. After surgical transfer to the uteri of pseudopregnant surrogate mothers, approximately 40% of the blastocysts developed to term and became healthy adults without apparent tumors at 1 year of age. Molecular hybridization tests for the presence of SV40-specific DNA sequences were conducted on DNA extracted from various organs of these animals. Between 0.5 and 13 SV40 genome equivalents per diploid mouse DNA value were found in some organs of approximately 40% of the adult survivors; this represents a substantial augmentation of the amount administered per embryo. The results are consistent with the working hypothesis that the SV40 DNA may have been integrated into the host genome; alternatively, the viral DNA may have replicated as an extrachromosomal entity or by lytic infection in a few permissive cells. Persistence of the viral DNA from preimplantation stages to adult life may thus provide a new tool for experimental investigation of vertical transmission and expression of tumor viruses.

Xenotropic viruses: murine leukemia viruses associated with NIH Swiss, NZB, and other mouse strains

Murine leukemia virus activity is present in tissues from NIH Swiss and other mouse strains after cocultivation with nonvirus-yielding rat cells transformed by Harvey sarcoma virus. The resulting pseudotype sarcoma virus has the same type-specific coat as the virus previously isolated from New Zealand black (NZB) mice, and, like the NZB virus, it is unable to infect mouse cells. The results show that this NZB type virus is endogenous in other strains of mice and is xenotropic; that is, it grows only in cells foreign to the host. This is the first clear demonstration that NIH Swiss mice also carry indigenous infectious murine leukemia virus.

Characterization of C-type particles produced by a tissue culture-adapted murine myeloma

C-type particles produced by a tissue culture-adapted BALB/c myeloma were characterized. It was determined that although the particles were morphologically and antigenically similar to murine leukemia and sarcoma virus, the size of their RNA was different, they lacked RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, they were unstable in NET buffer, sucrose and citrate but were stable in glycerol and Earle balanced salt solution, and they behaved differently from oncornaviruses when treated with ether and detergent.

Leukemia-associated transplantation antigens related to murine leukemia virus. The X.1 system: immune response controlled by a locus linked to H-2

Two BALB radiation leukemias are strongly rejected by hybrids of BALB with certain other mouse strains, although BALB mice themselves exhibit no detectable resistance whatever. Hybrids immunized with progressively increased inocula are resistant to 200 x 10(6) or more leukemia cells; their serum is cytotoxic for the leukemia cells in vitro and protects BALB mice against challenge with these BALB leukemias. The antigenic system thus identified has been named X.1. In (BALB x B6) hybrids the major determinant of resistance was shown to be a B6 gene in the K region of H-2. This is likely to be the Rgv-1 (Resistance to gross virus) locus of Lilly, which may thus be identified in this case as an Ir (Immune response) allele conferring ability to respond to X.1 antigen on MuLV and leukemia cells, and so responsible for production of X.1 antibody and the rejection of X.1(+) leukemia cells by hybrid mice. Immunoelectron microscopy with X.1 antiserum (from immunized hybrids) shows labeling both on the cell surface and on virions produced by the leukemia cells. It is not known whether X.1 comprises only one or more than one antigen. Three radiation-induced BALB leukemias, one A strain radiation-induced leukemia, and 15/15 AKR primary spontaneous leukemias were typed X.1(+) by the cytotoxicity test. Several other leukemias, including one induced by passage A Gross virus and one long-transplanted AKR ascites leukemia carried in (B6 x AKR)F(1) hybrids, were X.1(-). Normal mice of strains with a high incidence of leukemia and one other strain (129) express X.1 antigen, but evidently in amounts too small for certain detection in vitro; by the method of absorption in vivo, however, these strains could be typed X.1(+) and other strains X.1(-). We ascribe the X.1 antigen system tentatively to a sub-type of MuLV that is not passage A Gross virus and is probably not the dominant sub-type in strains with a high incidence of leukemia. After repeated passage in hybrids, one of the BALB leukemias became relatively resistant to rejection by the hybrid, partially lost its sensitivity to X.1 antiserum in vitro, and in electron micrographs was seen to produce fewer virions. The serum of untreated (BALB x B6) hybrids often contains cytotoxic antibody against leukemia cells, some of it probably anti-X.1. But another commonly occurring antibody, which is cytotoxic for C57BL leukemia EL4, appears to belong to another (undefined) system.

Independent segregation of loci for activation of biologically distinguishable RNA C-type viruses in mouse cells

Two genetic loci for induction of RNA C-type virus in BALB/c mouse embryo cells segregate independently in backcross embryo cell lines. The viruses at these loci are shown to be biologically distinguishable. The first, described previously, codes for activation of a virus that grows preferentially in NIH Swiss embryo cells. The newly detected locus codes for activation of a virus that grows poorly, if at all, in NIH Swiss or BALB/c cells, but replicates well in a rat cell line. Its serologic properties are different from those of viruses of the two major serologic subgroups of murine leukemia virus. The present findings provide support for the hypothesis that the loci for virus induction in BALB/c cells represent genetic information for C-type viruses and that the endogenous viruses are subject to different cellular genetic controls.