Lymphocyte deficiencies increase susceptibility to friend virus-induced erythroleukemia in Fv-2 genetically resistant mice.
The study of genetic resistance to retroviral diseases provides insights into the mechanisms by which organisms overcome potentially lethal infections. Fv-2 resistance to Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia acts through nonimmunological mechanisms to prevent early virus spread, but it does not completely block infection. The current experiments were done to determine whether Fv-2 alone could provide resistance or whether immunological mechanisms were also required to bring infection under control. Fv-2-resistant mice that were CD4(+) T-cell deficient were able to restrict early virus replication and spread as well as normal Fv-2-resistant mice, but they could not maintain control and developed severe Friend virus-induced splenomegaly and erythroleukemia by 6 to 8 weeks postinfection. Mice deficient in CD8(+) T cells and, to a lesser extent, B cells were also susceptible to late Friend virus-induced disease. Thus, Fv-2 resistance does not independently prevent FV-induced erythroleukemia but works in concert with the immune system by limiting early infection long enough to allow virus-specific immunity time to develop and facilitate recovery.
Hasenkrug
K J
KJ
Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana 59840, USA. khasenkrug@nih.gov
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005622:Friend murine leukemia virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000276:immunology*; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*