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AKR thymic lymphomas involving mink cell focus-inducing murine leukemia viruses have a common region of provirus
Abstract:
Newly acquired proviruses related to a mink cell focus-inducing murine leukemia virus were detected in low copy number in restriction endonuclease-digested DNAs from thymic lymphomas of AKR/J mice. These extra proviruses were not present in DNAs of either normal thymus or leukemic brain tissues. Extra tumor-specific DNA fragments generated by restriction endonucleases either were identical in size or fell into similar size classes, suggesting a common site(s) of provirus integration. Characterization of extra EcoRI DNA fragments for mink cell focus-inducing viral sequences revealed that all of them contained large terminal repeat sequences and that a significant number represented proviruses with deletions.
Insights
Newly acquired mink cell focus-inducing murine leukemia virus proviruses were found in AKR/J mouse thymic lymphomas. These tumor-specific proviruses, some with deletions, suggest common integration sites.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Murine leukemia viruses (MLVs) are retroviruses implicated in various cancers.
- AKR/J mice are a common model for spontaneous leukemia development.
- Mink cell focus-inducing (MCF) MLVs are a specific subtype known to induce tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of newly acquired proviruses in AKR/J mouse thymic lymphomas.
- To determine if these proviruses are specific to tumor tissues.
- To identify potential common integration sites of these proviruses.
Main Methods:
- Restriction endonuclease digestion of DNA from thymic lymphomas, normal thymus, and leukemic brain tissues.
- Analysis of DNA fragments for the presence of mink cell focus-inducing viral sequences.
- Characterization of extra EcoRI DNA fragments for viral sequences, terminal repeats, and deletions.
Main Results:
- Newly acquired MCF-related proviruses were detected in low copy numbers in thymic lymphomas.
- These proviruses were absent in normal thymus and leukemic brain tissues, indicating tumor specificity.
- Extra tumor-specific DNA fragments suggested common provirus integration sites.
- Characterization revealed large terminal repeat sequences and deletions in a significant number of proviruses.
Conclusions:
- The study identified tumor-specific acquired proviruses in AKR/J mouse lymphomas.
- Evidence suggests common integration sites for these proviruses.
- The presence of deletions in some proviruses may play a role in lymphomagenesis.