title: Modulation of the host microenvironment by a common non-oncolytic mouse virus leads to inhibition of plasmacytoma development through NK cell activation.
abstract: Although many cells undergo transformation, few actually develop into tumours, due to successful mechanisms of immunosurveillance. To investigate whether an infectious agent may play a role in this process, the growth of a plasmacytoma was investigated in mice infected by lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus. Acutely infected animals were significantly protected against tumour development. The mechanisms responsible for this protection were analysed in mice deficient for relevant immune cells or molecules and after in vivo cell depletion. This protection by viral infection correlated with NK cell activation and with IFN-γ production. It might also be related to activation of NK/T-cells, although this remains to be proven formally. Therefore, our results indicated that infections with benign micro-organisms may protect the host against cancer development, through non-specific stimulation of the host's innate immune system and especially of NK cells.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Experimental Medicine, de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gaëtan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thirion
authors.affiliation: Unit of Experimental Medicine, de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anubha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.affiliation: Unit of Experimental Medicine, de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hulhoven
authors.affiliation: Unit of Experimental Medicine, de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Markine-Goriaynoff
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Snick
authors.affiliation: Unit of Experimental Medicine, de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Coutelier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007772:Lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*