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Updated: Sep 3, 2026
Heterokaryon Technique for Analysis of Cell Type-specific Localization
Published on: March 11, 2011
Erythroid cell fusion in the early phase of Friend virus leukemogenesis
Abstract:
Infection of susceptible strain mice with the oncogenic Friend erythroleukemia virus initially results in fulminant erythroid hyperplasia. Several weeks later a frank erythroid leukemia develops. At the earliest stages of Friend disease there is extensive cell fusion involving erythroid cells but not platelets and granulocytes. Fusion was detected in experiments with allophenic (chimeric) mice whose component strains express electrophoretically distinct forms of the dimeric enzyme glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI). Infection of such animals with the polycythemic strain of Friend virus resulted in the rapid development of Friend disease. Concomitant with the appearance of early disease symptoms was the appearance in the red cells of the heterodimeric form of GPI, an unequivocal consequence of cell fusion. Platelet and granulocyte samples from the same infected animals failed to exhibit the hybrid GPI form. Furthermore, no hybrid dimer was evident in red cells from chimeric mice in which blood formation had been stimulated by phenylhydrazine treatment. These observations suggest that the occurrence of cell fusion early after infection by Friend virus is a significant aspect in the rapid development of neoplastic disease.
Insights
Friend virus infection causes erythroid cell fusion in mice, leading to rapid development of erythroleukemia. This cell fusion, detected via glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) analysis, is crucial for neoplastic disease progression.
Area of Science:
- * Virology
- * Immunology
- * Oncology
Background:
- * Friend erythroleukemia virus causes rapid erythroid hyperplasia and subsequent leukemia in susceptible mice.
- * Early stages of Friend disease are characterized by significant cell fusion, specifically involving erythroid cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the role of cell fusion in the early pathogenesis of Friend virus-induced erythroleukemia.
- * To determine if cell fusion is specific to erythroid cells during the initial phase of the disease.
Main Methods:
- * Utilized allophenic (chimeric) mice with distinct electrophoretic forms of glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI).
- * Analyzed red blood cells, platelets, and granulocytes for the presence of heterodimeric GPI, indicating cell fusion.
- * Compared GPI forms in virus-infected chimeric mice with those in phenylhydrazine-treated chimeric mice.
Main Results:
- * Infection with Friend virus rapidly induced disease and the appearance of heterodimeric GPI in red blood cells, confirming erythroid cell fusion.
- * Platelets and granulocytes from infected mice did not show hybrid GPI forms, indicating fusion is limited to erythroid cells.
- * No hybrid GPI was detected in red blood cells of chimeric mice stimulated to form blood by phenylhydrazine, highlighting the specificity of virus-induced fusion.
Conclusions:
- * Cell fusion involving erythroid cells is a significant early event in Friend virus infection.
- * This early cell fusion is strongly implicated in the rapid development of neoplastic erythroleukemia.
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