Immunological control of polyoma virus oncogenesis in mice.
Adult CBA mice thymectomized, treated with antilymphocytic globulin (ALG) and inoculated with human leprosy organisms were accidentally infected with polyoma virus and all developed tumours. After cessation of ALG administration, some animals were given spleen cells from syngeneic donors immunized with polyoma virus; none developed tumours. Similar results were obtained in mice deliberately infected with polyoma virus but not with leprosy organisms. Passive transfer of antibody before but not after virus inoculation prevented tumour formation in immunosuppressed recipients. Virus infection in thymectomized, lethally irradiated and bone marrow reconstituted mice resulted in only a very low incidence of tumours. These results emphasize the role of immunological surveillance in preventing polyoma tumour formation under natural conditions.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007114:Immunization; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000276:immunology; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D012513:Sarcoma, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013934:Thymectomy
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum