Proliferation of infected lymphoid precursors before Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced T-cell lymphoma

NFS/N mice inoculated with Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) developed T-cell lymphoma after a 10-week latent period. Expression of lymphoid differentiation antigens, appearance of M-MuLV-encoded cell surface antigens, and rates of cellular proliferation were measured in splenic and bone marrow subpopulations during this latent period. At 2 weeks of age, Thy-1-and surface immunoglobulin-negative null cells of spleen and bone marrow expressed M-MuLV antigens whereas T- and B-lymphocytes did not. During the 3d and 4th weeks, the number of splenic null cells increased to six times the number found in uninfected controls. These null cells included the precursors of lymphocytes and hematopoietic cells. For the remainder of the latent period, the percentage of null cells undergoing proliferation was three times greater in the infected mice, while the total number of null cells remained constant. This proliferation was not accompanied by terminal differentiation or emigration of mature cell types from the spleen. Proliferation was substantially delayed in CBA mice, which are resistant to lymphoma induction.