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.
Mosier
D E
DE
Yetter
R A
RA
Morse
H C
HC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D005260:Female; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology