The Mus cervicolor MuLV isolate M813 is highly fusogenic and induces a T-cell lymphoma associated with large multinucleated cells.
M813 is a type-C murine leukemia virus (MuLV) isolated from the Asian rodent Mus cervicolor. We have recently demonstrated that M813 defines a distinct MuLV receptor interference group. Here we show that M813 rapidly induces fusion of MuLV-expressing fibroblasts from "without," with syncytia being observed within 1 h after exposure to virus. Infection of fibroblasts with MuLV from all tested receptor-interference groups imparts susceptibility to M813-induced fusion, provided the cells also express the M813 receptor. Syncytium induction is also observed in vivo; mice infected with M813 develop a peripheral T-cell lymphoma, which is associated with large multinucleated cells of macrophage origin. A recombinant Moloney MuLV/M813 chimeric virus demonstrated that syncytium induction is a function of the Env SU protein. We postulate that the highly fusogenic property of M813 is attributable to either its unique receptor usage or sequences in the proline-rich domain of the Env protein.
Prassolov
V
V
Heinrich-Pette-Institut für Experimentelle Immunologie und Virologie an der Universität Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany.
Ivanov
D
D
Hein
S
S
Rutter
G
G
Münk
C
C
Löhler
J
J
Stocking
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000821:virology*; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009115:Muridae; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000502:physiology
D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins