Mls--a retrovirus exploits the immune system.
The identity of minor lymphocytes stimulating (Mls) antigens, endogenous superantigens that can activate, or induce the deletion of, large portions of the T-cell repertoire, has recently been revealed: they are encoded by mouse mammary tumor viruses (MMTV) that have integrated into the germ line as DNA proviruses. As Hans Acha-Orbea and Ed Palmer point out, Mls-mediated modulation may be only the tip of the retrovirus iceberg; already murine leukemia virus (MuLV), with similar superantigen properties, has been discovered.
Acha-Orbea
H
H
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Epalinges, Switzerland.
Palmer
E
E
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016662:Virus Integration / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens