title: Cytotoxic responses to BLV tax oncoprotein do not prevent leukemogenesis in sheep.
abstract: Delta retrovirus-mediated leukemogenesis is dependent on the oncogenic potential of Tax. It is not clear, however, whether Tax-specific immune responses play a role in leukemia onset and progression. Using the BLV-associated leukemia model in sheep, we found that Tax-specific cytotoxic responses induced by DNA immunization or viral infection of naïve animals were not predictive of disease outcome and did not prevent tumor development. Furthermore, provirus and tax may be absent from blood for extended periods, emphasizing the relevance of surveying other compartments during chronic lymphoproliferative disorders. Our results support the conclusion that Tax-specific cytotoxic responses, even during the initial phase of infection, are not sufficient to prevent leukemogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium. anne.vandenbroeke@bordet.be
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van den Broeke
authors.forename: Mustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oumouna
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beskorwayne
authors.forename: Maud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szynal
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cleuter
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babiuk
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bagnis
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martiat
authors.forename: Arsene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burny
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Griebel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016356:Gene Products, tax / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012756:Sheep; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016356:Gene Products, tax; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014765:Viral Vaccines