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Isolation of a replication-defective murine leukaemia virus from cultured AKR leukaemia cells
Abstract:
Mice of the AKR strain are characterised by a high incidence of spontaneous thymic lymphomas. AKR chromosomes contain the genomes of ecotropic murine leukaemia virus (MuLV) at two loci, termed Akv-1 and Akv-2 (refs 2-6). Shortly after birth, the normal tissues of AKR mice begin to produce high levels of this XC-positive MuLV (ref. 7) (that is, one that forms XC plaques). A second class of MuLV, termed mink cell focus-inducing virus (MCF), is produced specifically by preleukaemic and leukaemic AKR thymocytes. Nowinski et al. have established a series of tissue culture lines from AKR leukaemias and reported that the resulting cell lines produce virus particles, but that these particles, surprisingly, do not give rise to XC plaques. We have analysed the virus particles produced by one of these cell lines, termed AKRSL2. We show here that, unlike most or all of the nonmalignant tissues in the AKR mouse, these cultured lymphoma cells produce very little non-defective ecotropic MuLV; however, they do produce replication-defective ecotropic MuLV.
Insights
AKR mice develop thymic lymphomas due to high levels of ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV). Cultured lymphoma cells produce replication-defective MuLV, unlike normal tissues which produce XC-positive MuLV.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- AKR mice exhibit a high incidence of spontaneous thymic lymphomas.
- AKR mouse chromosomes harbor ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MuLV) genomes at Akv-1 and Akv-2 loci.
- Normal AKR tissues produce high levels of XC-positive MuLV shortly after birth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze virus particles from AKR lymphoma cell lines.
- To investigate the type of MuLV produced by cultured AKR lymphoma cells.
- To compare viral production in malignant vs. non-malignant AKR tissues.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of virus particles from the AKRSL2 lymphoma cell line.
- Characterization of MuLV produced by cultured leukemia cells.
- Comparison of viral production in cultured lymphoma cells versus normal AKR tissues.
Main Results:
- Cultured AKR lymphoma cells (AKRSL2) produce very little non-defective ecotropic MuLV.
- These lymphoma cells primarily produce replication-defective ecotropic MuLV.
- This contrasts with non-malignant AKR tissues, which produce high levels of XC-positive MuLV.
Conclusions:
- AKR lymphoma cells exhibit altered MuLV production compared to normal tissues.
- The production of replication-defective MuLV by lymphoma cells may be significant in lymphomagenesis.
- Further research is needed to understand the role of defective MuLV in AKR lymphoma development.
