H-2-specific antibodies induced by injection of syngeneic leukemia cells

AKR/J mice immunized with several syngeneic leukemia cells contained antibodies in their sera which reacted with certain AKR leukemia cell lines, depending on their H-2 expression, and precipitated H-2K antigens from lysates of leukemia cells. Precipitation of H-2K was not due to virus-specific antibodies: it could not be blocked by prior absorption with H-2-negative leukemias, but was blocked by certain allogeneic lymphocytes. Tumor-specific H-2K antibodies did not react with H-2K from normal AKR lymphocytes either on the cell surface or after detergent solubilization; however, they did react with H-2K from mitogen-activated AKR and BALB.K lymphoblasts. Since both these latter cells were also lysed by AKR-Gross/MuLV-specific and H-2K^k-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes, we consider the possibility that antibodies detecting conformational alterations induced in H-2K^k molecules by viral association may be present in syngeneic AKR antileukemia sera.Abbreviations used in this paper GCSA Gross-virus-induced cell-surface antigen - MCF mink cell focus-forming virus - MuLV murine leukemia virus - Th T helper     

Application of freeze-drying intact cells to studies of murine oncornavirus morphogenesis.

Using a method for freeze-drying intact cells, uninfected and murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-infected JLSV9 cell surfaces, as well as murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV)-infected cell surfaces, were examined by electron microscopy. The 10-nm knobs of MuLV and the 5-nm spikes of MuMTV were clearly revealed on the surfaces of budding viruses and were also found dispersed over the cell surface. The MuLV knobs are randomly arranged on the virus surface, whereas the MuMTV spikes are much more ordered. Because freeze-fractured budding viral envelopes are devoid of intramembranous particles, the observed surface particles do not appear to be merely accentuated intramembranous particles. This technique should permit further analysis of the morphogenesis of viral envelopes without the need for externally applied labels.     

H-2-restricted cytolysis of L cells doubly transformed with a cloned H-2Kb gene and cloned retroviral DNA

We report the construction of target cells by the double transformation of mouse L cells with a cloned H-2Kb gene and molecular clones of Akv or Gross murine leukemia virus (MuLV) or the cloned gag gene of Akv MuLV. Cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) generated in BALB.B mice specific for Gross MuLV (closely related to Akv MuLV) kill these doubly transformed cells. This is a direct indication that a CTL subpopulation recognizes H-2Kb antigen in association with a viral antigen encoded by the gag gene of Gross MuLV.     

Resistance to cell-mediated cytotoxicity is correlated with reduction of H-2K gene products in AKR leukemia

AKR leukemia cell lines differing in the amount of H-2K and H-2D antigens expressed on the cell surface were used to assess cell-mediated immune responses in syngeneic mice against Gross/AKR murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-induced tumors. Leukemic cells with reduced expression of H-2K^k antigens were inactive as inducers of Gross-MuLV/H-2^k-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and resistant to lysis by CTL raised against H-2K^k positive AKR leukemia cells. H-2K^k positive leukemias induced cytotoxic effectors, which upon restimulation in vitro, lysed the stimulating and other H-2K^k positive leukemia cells. In antibody inhibition experiments, T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity to these leukemias could only be inhibited by antisera and monoclonal antibodies specific for the H-2K^k antigens. Due to this specific role of H-2K^k antigens in T-cell cytotoxicity to Gross/AKR MuLV-induced tumors, reduced expression of H-2K^k antigens on spontaneous AKR leukemic cells could have important implications for surveillance of these neoplastic cells.Abbreviations used in this paper CTL cytotoxic T lymphocytes - MuLV murine leukemia virus     

Differential induction of H-2K vs H-2D class I major histocompatibility complex antigen expression by murine recombinant interferon-gamma

The results presented here indicate that recombinant murine interferon-gamma can cause a dramatic differential induction of two distinct class I MHC molecules. Thus, IFN-gamma treatment of the murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-induced AKR SL3 tumor, a cell line that normally expresses moderate levels of class I MHC antigens, resulted in a large increase in H-2Dk expression, but no change or a slight decrease in H-2Kk expression as measured by cytofluorography. Explanations of the selective enhancement of Dk expression based on increased Fc receptor display or differential kinetics of induction were ruled out. The phenomenon was observed over a wide range of doses of IFN-gamma and with two different monoclonal antibodies to Kk, the latter finding making it unlikely that an altered form of the Kk molecule was induced. The same differential induction of the Dk antigen was observed for the LBRM.5A4 tumor cell line. Because LBRM.5A4 is also MuLV+ but of congenic B10.BR (H-2k) origin, these results were consistent with the possibility that such differential induction was associated with the H-2k haplotype and/or MuLV. The implications of these results, as a possible mechanism of tumor cell escape from an immune surveillance system monitored by class I MHC-restricted T cells and as a useful model system to dissect the mechanism of IFN-gamma induction of class I MHC antigens, are discussed.     

Infection of cultured rat hepatoma cells by mouse mammary tumor virus.

A continuous line of buffalo rat hepatoma (HTC) cells has been successfully infected with mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) produced by the GR mammary tumor cell line. Uniform infection required initial exposure of the HTC cells to greater than 10(5) MMTV particles per cell. The resultant chronically infected cell population was found to have stably acquired 20-30 copies of MMTV DNA. The infected cells contain viral RNA and express viral antigens; however, very few MMTV particles are released into the culture medium. In spite of the biochemical evidence for infection, we have not detected any alterations in the morphology or growth properties of the infected HTC cells. As is the case in mammary tumor cells, the intracellular concentration of viral RNA is strongly stimulated (50-150 fold) by the synthetic glucorcorticoid, dexamethasone. Thus it appears that the mechanisms by which glucorticoids regulate MMTV gene expression in mouse cells are maintained when this virus infects nonmurine cells.     

AtT20 pituitary tumour cells contain mouse mammary tumour virus and intracisternal A-type particles in addition to murine leukemia virus

By electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry we have examined the retroviruses endogenous to AtT20 D16V cells, a cloned line of murine pituitary tumour cells. In addition to the C-type retrovirus particles related to Rauscher murine leukemia virus (MuLV) previously reported to bud from these cells we observed cytoplasmic A-type particles and intracisternal A-type particles (IAP). In the cytoplasm the A-type particles occur in large clusters often associated with sheets of material with a fine structure resembling the shells of the particles. At the plasma membrane individual A-type particles bud to give rise to extracellular virions. The IAP are restricted to the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) into which they bud: they are not transported out of the RER to the Golgi apparatus and beyond. We describe a new monoclonal antibody (designated 83E7) which is specific for an epitope of the major core protein (MTVp27) of mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV). Using immunogold labelling procedures we have specifically labelled both the A-type particles and the associated sheets of material with this antibody. We conclude that the A-type particles and the virions they give rise to are MMTV. The sheets of material must also at least in part be made up of the major core protein of MMTV or its precursor polypeptide. AtT20 cells, therefore, contain endogenous MuLV and MMTV as well as IAP.     

Modulation of mouse mammary tumor virus production in the MJY-alpha cell line.

Implantation of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-producing mammary tumor cell line MJY-alpha into isogeneic mice elicited both humoral and T-cell responses against MMTV virion antigens. The carcinosarcomas which developed from the implanted cells showed a significant decrease in MMTV synthesis, compared with cells remaining in culture, which was detectable as early as 7 days after implantation and for five transplant generations. Electron microscopic examination of thin sections of the tumors revealed that intracytoplasmic A particles, budding particles, and cell-free MMTV B particles were all affected. However, immunofluorescence assays of tumor sections demonstrated the presence of MMTV viral antigens in the cells. Cell cultures initiated from first-, third-, and fourth-generation tumors were morphologically identical to the original in vitro cell line, although virus production was barely detectable. Analysis of the cultures by electron microscopy revealed a significant increase in MMTV virions after in vitro passage 3. Polypeptide profiles obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of virions purified from these cultures were identical to MMTV. Immunodiffusion demonstrated the cross-reactivity between these virions and MMTV particles obtained from mouse milk. In vitro treatment of MJY-alpha cell cultures with rabbit anti-MMTV antiserum resulted in a reduction of extracellular MMTV virions, as well as alterations in their sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic polypeptide patterns.     

Mutation in the glycosylated gag protein of murine leukemia virus results in reduced in vivo infectivity and a novel defect in viral budding or release

All gammaretroviruses, including murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs), feline leukemia viruses, and gibbon-ape leukemia virus, encode an alternate, glycosylated form of Gag polyprotein (glyco-Gag or gPr80gag) in addition to the polyprotein precursor of the viral capsid proteins (Pr65gag). gPr80gag is translated from an upstream in-frame CUG initiation codon, in contrast to the AUG codon used for Pr65gag. The role of glyco-Gag in MuLV replication has been unclear, since gPr80gag-negative Moloney MuLV (M-MuLV) mutants are replication competent in vitro and pathogenic in vivo. However, reversion to the wild type is frequently observed in vivo. In these experiments, in vivo inoculation of a gPr80gag mutant, Ab-X-M-MuLV, showed substantially lower (2 log) initial infectivity in newborn NIH Swiss mice than that of wild-type virus, and revertants to the wild type could be detected by PCR cloning and DNA sequencing as early as 15 days postinfection. Atomic force microscopy of Ab-X-M-MuLV-infected producer cells or of the PA317 amphotropic MuLV-based vector packaging line (also gPr80gag negative) revealed the presence of tube-like viral structures on the cell surface. In contrast, wild-type virus-infected cells showed the typical spherical, 145-nm particles observed previously. Expression of gPr80gag in PA317 cells converted the tube-like structures to typical spherical particles. PA317 cells expressing gPr80gag produced 5- to 10-fold more infectious vector or viral particles as well. Metabolic labeling studies indicated that this reflected enhanced virus particle release rather than increased viral protein synthesis. These results indicate that gPr80gag is important for M-MuLV replication in vivo and in vitro and that the protein may be involved in a late step in viral budding or release.     

Genes of the H-2 complex regulate the antibody response to murine leukemia virus

The influence of the major histocompatibility complex of the mouse (H-2 complex) on the antibody response against murine leukemia virus (MuLV) was investigated after 3 different ways of virus presentation (milk transmission of virus, spontaneous virus activation, and immunization with inactivated virus). The antibody response against MuLV was measured in the sera of H-2 congenic C57BL V+ sublines (V+ denotes positive for milk-transmitted MuLV), (B10.AV+ X C57BL)F1 mice, (C57BL X AKR)F1 mice and of C57BL animals after immunization with inactivated AKR virus. The pattern of immune responsiveness of the different C57BL strains to MuLV was independent of virus replication and was similar for the 3 ways of virus presentation. Serum antibody levels were controlled by 2 genes within the H-2 complex. The first gene (Ir-MuLV-1) was located in the I-A region and was complemented by a second gene (Ir-MuLV-2), which was situated in the regions to the right of the I-B region. Presence of 2 responder alleles (Ir-MuLV-1+,2+) led to an optimal antibody response (H-2b haplotype). Animals that only expressed a responder allele in the I-A region (Ir-MuLV-1+,2-) were intermediate responders. Animals lacking a responder allele in the I-A region (Ir-MuLV-1-,2+ or Ir-MuLV-1-,2-) were low responders.     

Identification of an FMR cell surface antigen associated with murine leukemia virus-infected cells.

FMR antigens are found on the surface of cells infected with Friend, Moloney, and Rauscher murine leukemia viruses (MuLV). These antigens are serologically distinct from the G cell surface antigens that are found on cells infected with endogenous MuLV (AKR and Gross virus). Cell surface antigens of both virus groups are immunogenic in mice, and immunization with appropriate virus-infected cells leads to the production of cytotoxic antisera. The cytotoxic activity of FMR antisera can be absorbed by disrupted preparations of Rauscher MuLV, but not by AKR MuLV. FMR antisera precipitate the viral envelope proteins gp70, pl5(E), and p12(E) from detergent-disrupted preparations of [3H]leucine-labeled MuLV. The reaction of these antisera with p15(E) and p12(E) proteins is directed against group-specific antigens and can be absorbed with AKR MuLV; in contrast, the reaction of these antisera with gp70 is directed against type-specific antigens and is absorbed only by viruses of the FMR group. In immune precipitation assays with detergent-disrupted 125I surface-labeled cells, FMR antisera react only with type-specific antigens of the viral envelpe protein. On the basis of these findings we conclude that the FMR cell surface antigen is a determinant on the MuLV env gene product.     

Variation of expression of histocompatibility antigens on tumor cells: absence of H-2Kk-gene products from a gross-virus-induced leukemia in BALB.K

The antigenic profile of the K-GV tumor of BALB.K origin, induced by Gross virus and maintained in vitro and in vivo, was investigated by serological and immunochemical methods and techniques of cell-mediated immunity. The H-2K^k-gene products were absent by several criteria: (1) monoclonal antibody and conventional alloantisera directed against the H-2K^k antigenic specificities were nonreactive by direct testing and by absorptions. (2) H-2K^k products could not be precipitated from glycoprotein or protein extracts of the radiolabeled K-GV tumor. (3) Cytotoxic effectors against H-2K^k produced by sensitization in vitro and in vivo failed to kill K-GV target cells. (4) The tumor could neither stimulate BALB.B congenic mice to produce cytotoxic effectors nor specific cytotoxic antibody against H-2K^k-gene products. In contrast, the H-2D^k antigen was readily detectable by all these criteria. These findings therefore describe a tumor which has selectively lost the H-2K-gene products. The K-GV tumor was able to generate Gross-virus-specific CTL, but had greatly reduced susceptibility to lysis by Gross-virus-specific CTL generated by H-2K expressing AKR (H-2 ^k) tumors. These findings have important implications for the associative recognition of tumor antigens and the immune surveillance of virally induced tumors.Abbreviations used in this paper MHS major histocompatibility system - LcH Lens culinaris hemagglutinin - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - CTL cytotoxic T lymphocytes - GCSA Gross-virus-induced cell-surface antigen - MuLV murine leukemia virus     

Identification of a viral antigen recognized by H-2-restricted cytolytic T lymphocytes on a murine leukemia virus-induced tumor

Monoclonal antibodies were produced against protein p30, a structural protein of murine leukemia viruses (MuLV) coded by the gag gene of MuLV. Three monoclonal antibodies of different isotypes (i.e., IgG-1, IgG-2a, and IgG-2b) were chosen for extensive analysis. These three antibodies bound to mouse tumor cells induced by Friend, Moloney, Rauscher, and Gross MuLV, but not to noninfected normal mouse spleen cells. The ability of these monoclonal antibodies to inhibit cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity by masking the antigens recognized by CTL on the target cell surface was studied in various CTL systems. It was found that the only CTL that were consistently inhibited in their lytic activity came from BALB.B (H-2b) mice immunized against syngeneic Gross MuLV-induced B.GV cells. These results thus showed that a subpopulation of BALB.B anti-Gross MuLV CTL recognized a Gross MuLV gag gene product expressed on the surface of B.GV cells.     

An unlabeled antibody macromolecule technique using hemocyanin for the identification of type B and type C retrovirus envelope and cell surface antigens by correlative fluorescence, transmission electron, and scanning electron microscopy.

The present resolution (75-100 A) of the conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM) and its ability to image the surfaces of large numbers of whole cells in situ permit the approach of problems such as viral and cell surface antigen localization by immunological labeling with visual markers. Identification of virus and cell surface antigens in situ has been accomplished in indirect reactions by unconjugated markers. Hemocyanin (Hcy) from whelk, Busycon canniculatum, has been developed as an immunospecific marker for virion and cell surface labeling in the electron microscope. Its size (30 x 50 nm) and distinct cylindrical shape permit easy visualization in the SEM and the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The Hcy method involves the preparation of antisera to Hcy in appropriate hosts for use in an unlabeled antibody macromolecule procedure based exclusively on antigen-antibody affinity to couple the macromolecule to the antigen site. Further correlative data from fluorescence microscopy can be obtained from similarly labeled samples by binding fluorescein to the bridging antibodies used in the Hcy technique. The usefulness of the Hcy marker system was demonstrated by employing highly specific antisera to the major envelope and cell surface glycoprotein (gp70) of Rauscher murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV), a type C retrovirus. The antiserum was shown to bind to the virion and cell surfaces of virus-infected cells in the homologous virus-infected cell system. It also demonstrated the expression of R-MuLV gp70-related antigens on a murine cell line Mm5mt/c1 which produces mouse mammary tumor virus (MuMTV), a type B retrovirus. Furthermore, when used in the Hcy marker system the anti-gp70 serum was able to distinguish type B from type C budding virus on the same cell. Methods for the preparation of immunoreagents and labeling of cells are discussed.     

Serological analysis of an oncornavirus (PMF virus) detected in malignant permanent human cell lines.

Immunodiffusion analysis of the PMF virus which was detected in malignant permanent human cell lines revealed positive reactions with antisera against the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV). No cross-reactivity was demonstrated with murine leukemia virus (MuLV), rat leukemia virus (RaLV), hamster leukemia virus (HaLV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), simian (woolly monkey) sarcoma virus (SSV-1) and mouse mammary tumor virus (MTV). The cross-reactive antigens of the PMF virus and the MPMV are considered as evidence for the human origin of the PMF virus.     

Antibody-induced redistribution of normal and tumor associated surface antigens

Redistribution (capping) of normal and tumor-associated surface antigens was studied on murine and human cells by the indirect membrane immunofluorescence (MIF) technique. The capping of H-2 isoantigens was compared on normal mouse T-lymphocytes and on YAC cells, a Moloney leukemia virus (MLV) induced lymphoma. H-2 and Moloney virus induced cell surface antigen (MCSA) capping was compared on three YAC lines with different MCSA concentrations. H-2 and tumor-associated surface antigen capping was compared on two polyoma induced sarcoma lines and five methylcholanthrene induced sarcoma lines. In the human system, IgM-capping was compared on normal lymphocytes and on the Burkitt lymphoma derived Daudi line. Capping of HL-A and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) determined membrane antigen (MA) was compared on the Burkitt lymphoma derived line Maku and on EBV-superinfected Daudi cells. H-2 antigens on normal murine cells capped more promptly and on a larger fraction of the cell population on the various tumor cells. Surface associated IgM showed a better capping on normal lymphocytes than on Daudi cells. All tumor associated antigens except MCSA, showed good capping. MCSA was almost completely refractory to capping. Increasing concentrations of MCSA appeared to inhibit the capping of H-2 on the YAC sublines with different concentrations of MCSA. The polyoma induced ascites sarcoma (SEWA) did not cap either with regard to H-2 or the polyoma determined surface antigen.     

Mammary tumor virus induction by glucocorticoids. Characterization of specific transcriptional regulation.

Dexamethasone (1,4-pregnadiene-9-fluor-16alpha-methyl-11beta,17alpha,21-triol-3,20-dione), a potent synthetic glucocorticoid, stimulates mouse mammary tumor virus expression 10- to 20-fold in tissue culture cells. This hormone effect was observed at concentrations as low as 1 times 10-10 M and was maximal at 10-7 to 10-8 M. The time course of induction indicated that detectable increases in extracellular viral DNA polymerase were first noted 18 to 24 hours following the addition of dexamethasone, and cells produced the highest polymerase levels at the time monolayers approached confluence. Steroid responsiveness was associated with specific increases in type B murine mammary tumor virus structural polypeptide (gp52(sl) expression and murine mammary tumor virus RNA that quantitatively paralleled the increase in extracellular virus production as measured by electron microscopy and supernatant RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity. Another virally transformed murine cell line, KA 31, did not contain detectable levels of murine mammary tumor virus gp52(sl) or RNA before or after dexamethasone stimulation; thus induction was noted only in murine cells with pre-existing murine mammary tumor virus expression. No increase in basal levels of type C murine leukemia viral proteins or RNA was detected in dexamethasone-treated mammary cell lines which were producing increased levels of murine mammary tumor virus. Therefore, increases in murine mammary tumor virus gene products are specific for murine mammary tumor virus DNA sequences under these conditions.     

Relationship between trinitrophenyl and H-2 antigens on trinitrophenyl-modified spleen cells. I. H-2 antigens on cells treated with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid are derivatized.

Spleen cells were treated with TNBS in order to determine if cell surface H-2 antigens are derivatized with TNP. By labeling the cell membrane of the TNP-modified cells with 125I, followed by detergent lysis and immune precipitation with anti-TNP, it was determined that no H-2 antigenic activity remained in the supernatant. Further, by the use of an antibody-induced antigen redistribution assay it was found that previous exposure to TNP-modified cells to anti-TNP in the absence of complement rendered these cells resistant to lysis by anti-H-2 in the presence of complement. Together these data indicate that at the concentration of TNBS used for modification, H-2 antigens are derivatized with TNP. However, in addition to H-2, other proteins including immunoglobulin were also derivatized with TNP. Anti-TNP cytotoxic effector cells were blocked from their cytotoxic activity by anti-TNP antiserum. These data indicate that TNP directly couples to H-2 antigens on the cell surface of TNP-modified cells and that TNP is associated with the antigenic determinant that the cytotoxic T cell recognizes.     

Biochemical properties of the bromodeoxyuridine-induced guinea pig virus.

The biophysical and biochemical properties of the virus particles released by guinea pig embryo cells treated with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BUdR) have been compared to those of the B-type mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) and the C-type Rauscher murine leukemia virus. The high-molecular-weight (60 to 70S) RNA of the BUdR-induced guinea pig virus (GPV) has a molecular weight of 8 X 106 when measred by mixed agarose polyacylamide gel electrophoresis. The virus particles isolated from the tissue culture medium of BUdR-induced guniea pig cells have the following properties in common with MMTV: (i) a buoyant density of 1.18 g/ml in sucrose and 1.21 g/ml in CsCl, and (ii) a DNA polymerase that prefers Mg2+ over Mn2+ in an assay using the synthetic template poly(rC):oligo(dG). No nucleic acid sequence homology between GPV RNA and the viral RNAs of the MMTV, murine leukemia virus, hamster sarcoma virus, or Mason-Pfizer monkey virus could be observed in a competition hybridization assay using the radioactive-labeled GPV 60 to 70S RNA. By this same competition by hybridization assay the frequency of GPV proviral sequences was estimated to be at least 83 per haploid cellular genome of guniea pig cells. No nucleic acid sequences related to be GPV RNA were detected in the DNA of normal tissues of mice, rats, cats, dogs, baboons, or humans by direct RNA-DNA hybridization using radioactive GPV60 to 70S RNA.