title: Cell surface expression of the bovine leukemia virus-binding receptor on B and T lymphocytes is induced by receptor engagement.
abstract: Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), one of the most common infectious viruses of cattle, is endemic in many herds. Approximately 30-40% of adult cows in the United States are infected by this oncogenic C-type retrovirus and 1-5% of animals will eventually develop a malignant lymphoma. BLV, like the human and simian T cell leukemia viruses, is a deltaretrovirus but, in contrast with the latter, the BLV receptor remains unidentified. In this study, we demonstrate that the amino-terminal 182 residues of the BLV envelope glycoprotein surface unit encompasses the receptor-binding domain. A bona fide interaction of this receptor-binding domain with the BLV receptor was demonstrated by specific interference with BLV, but not human T cell leukemia virus, envelope glycoprotein-mediated binding. We generated a rabbit Ig Fc-tagged BLV receptor-binding domain construct and ascertained that the ligand binds the BLV receptor on target cells from multiple species. Using this tool, we determined that the BLV-binding receptor is expressed on differentiating pro/pre-B cells in mouse bone marrow. However, the receptor was not detected on mature/quiescent B cells but was induced upon B cell activation. Activation of human B and T lymphocytes also induced surface BLV-binding receptor expression and required de novo protein synthesis. Receptor levels were down-regulated as activated lymphocytes returned to quiescence. In the human thymus, BLV-binding receptor expression was specifically detected on thymocytes responding to the IL-7 cytokine. Thus, expression of the BLV-binding receptor is a marker of enhanced metabolic activity in B cells, T cells, and thymocytes.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5535/IFR 24, Université Montpellier I and II, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Madakasira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lavanya
authors.forename: Sandrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinet
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montel-Hagen
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mongellaz
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Battini
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sitbon
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011817:Rabbits; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C090924:BLVR protein, Bos taurus; D015851:Interleukin-7; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins