Human oocytes express murine retroviral equivalents.
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.
Nilsson
B O
BO
Department of Human Anatomy, Biomedical Centre, Uppsala, Sweden.
Kättström
P O
PO
Sundström
P
P
Jaquemin
P
P
Larsson
E
E
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000032:analysis; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009865:Oocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D007372:Interferons