Structural analysis of the major envelope glycoprotein (gp70) of the amphotropic and ecotropic type C viruses of wild mice.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F C Jensen.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Formaldehyde-fixed Staphylococcus aureus and monospecific antiserum to gp70, the major envelope glycoprotein of murine leukemia virus, were used to immunoadsorb gp70 from Nonidet P40 extracts prepared from surface-radioiodinated murine cells. The labeled gp70 molecules in these cells were linked to a protein of approximately 15,000 daltons via native disulfide bonding. Prior treatment of cells with the reversible, bifunctional, crosslinking reagent dimethyl-3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate, followed by immunoadsorption and two-dimensional diagonal electrophoresis, revealed apparent homodimers and homotrimers of the 85,000-dalton complex. Identical treatment of purified type C RNA tumor virus from murine cells also revealed homodimeric and homotrimeric species, demonstrating similar self-associating tendencies of this glycoprotein in both intact virus and the plasma membrane of nonproducing murine cells. One cross-linked product consistently detected on the surfaces of murine cells was not present after crosslinking of a representative strain of murine leukemia virus.
Tryptic peptide maps from more than 50 isolates of murine leukemia virus (MuLV) have shown that, in general, the structure of core protein p30 is highly conserved. However, a structurally variable region of p30 has been identified that is functionally associated with Fv-1 tropism. On the basis of this structural variability, MuLV strains can be classified as B-tropic, N-tropic, xenotropic, and/or as being derived from wild mice. Certain xenotropic viruses have a p30 like that of B-tropic MuLV and presumably would be subject to restriction in cells containing an Fv-In allele. Other p30 structural markers serve to distinguish the exogenous Friend, Moloney, and Rauscher viruses from endogenous MuLV. Furthermore, some MuLV strains have structural differences in their p30s that are useful as strain-specific markers. Finally, a possible sarcoma-associated alteration in the structure of p30 has been noted in the ml clone of Moloney murine sarcoma virus.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Structural comparison of the major envelope glycoproteins (gp70) from 35 different murine type C viruses and free gp70 expressed at various anatomical sites in the mouse showed that the gp70s are polymorphic products of a large multi-gene family encoding viral and differentiation antigens. Different proviruses are expressed in cells following distinct pathways of differentiation. When the various gp70s are grouped according to primary structure they fall naturally into viral host range classes, confirming the suspicion that C-type viral tropism is largely determined by the nature of the gp70 product expressed.
Recently, a novel class of murine type C virus (MCF), some strains of which are highly oncogenic in the AKR acceleration test, has been isolated from premalignant and malignant thymuses of AKR mice. The biology of these viruses suggested that MCFs are the product of recombination between endogenous ecotropic and xenotropic viruses and, further, that the recombination has taken place within the envelope (env) gene which encodes the surface glycoprotein (gp70) of the virion. We have compared by tryptic peptide analysis, the gp70s of four MCF isolates with the gp70s of various possible parental viruses. In addition, we have compared the tryptic peptides of the gag gene products p30 and p15 from several of these viruses. The results allow the following conclusions: (i) the gp70s of the MCF viruses are not identical to one another and are different from the gp70s of the possible parental viruses tested; (ii) the MCF virus gp70s have tryptic peptides in common with xenotropic virus gp70s as well as with ecotropic virus gp70s; and (iii) the gap region protein, p30, of the MCFs tested is identical to p30 of AKR ecotropic virus (Akv-1 or Akv-2) and distinct from p30 of xenotropic viruses, suggesting that the 5' end of the recombinant viruses is of Akv origin. The findings are discussed with respect to the possible role a recombinant virus might play in leukemogenesis in AKR mice.
The parameters of cell-mediated immune responses of rats to infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus or vaccinia virus were assessed by measuring primary footpad swelling, increased weights of the local lymph nodes, increased numbers of lymphocytes per lymph node, and the course of virus-specific cytolytic activity by these lymphocytes. Except for lack of a defined swelling caused by vaccinia virus injected into the hind footpads of rats, the kinetics of all these responses correlated and were in accord with the usual time course of cellular immune responses. Starting 3 days after infection, peaking at 5 to 7 days, and disappearing after 10 to 12 days, the responses by rats to both viruses were comparable to those found in mice. The phagocytes of these infected rats inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in vivo, indicating activation of the macrophages by virus-specific cellular immunity. The rat cytotoxic lymphocytes were thymus derived as judged by various criteria: inactivation by an absorbed rabbit anti-rat brain antiserum plus C, susceptibility to anti Thy 1.1 plus C, restriction of the lytic activity within inbred strains and probably by the Ag-B locus, and the kinetics of the response. The cytotoxic T lymphocytes were virus specific since they killed only target cells infected with the same virus but not uninfected cells, or targets that were infected with an unrelated virus.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
In earlier studies we found that human serum, but not serum from multiple other species, inactivated and lysed oncornaviruses from a number of diverse sources in the apparent absence of antibody. A detailed analysis of the role of the human complement (C) system in mediating this lytic process indicates that human C1q interacts directly, in the absence of immunoglobulin, with oncornaviruses. Binding of C1 via C1q in this manner leads to activation of C1r, C1s, and thus of the classical C pathway. Integrity of the classical pathway is an absolute requirement for lysis although activation of the alternative pathway considerably amplifies the amount of lysis obtained, possibly through involvement of the C3b-dependent feedback mechanism. Activation of C is accompanied by deposition of C components on the viral surface and lysis on completion of the C reaction sequence. Thus in this system, the C1q subunit of C1 subserves a specific recognition function normally associated with antibody. This ability of human serum to inactivate oncornaviruses may represent a natural defense mechanism operative in vivo which deters expression of intact oncornaviruses in human malignancies.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
After infection in utero or at birth with a cell culture adapted strain of mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV), several mouse strains developed a latent virus infection in the presence of specific antiviral antibodies. Up to 5 mo after infection, MCMV could be activated and recovered from spleen lymphocytes of the infected animals that were co-cultivated with histoincompatible (H-2 foreign) mouse embryo cells from uninfected animals. In contrast, co-cultivation of lymphoid cells from infected mice with mouse embryo cells from syngeneic, histocompatible (H-2 similar) donors did not activate MCMV. Similarly, MCMV was not recovered from sonicated lymphoid cells. Virus was activated by treating viable lymphoid cells with lipopolysaccharide, a B-cell mitogen, but was not activated by a variety of other mitogens such as phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, or pokeweed mitogen. Subsequent purification of lymphoid cells from the infected mice by a variety of techniques indicated that MCMV was harbored in the B-lymphocyte population.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This report clearly demonstrates that a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like syndrome and lymphoma can be induced in immunologically normal (BALB/c x NZB)F(1) mice by infection of neonates with a murine leukemia virus (MuLV) (Scripps leukemia virus [SLV] 60A) isolated from NZB lymphoblasts. SLV 60A was titered in vitro (XC test) and administered to newborn and adult (BALB/c x NZB)F(1) mice over six log(10) dilutions. Propagation of MuLV in the newborn recipients was indicated by greatly elevated serum Mu gs-1 levels which were proportional to the dose of virus given. The SLE-like syndrome was characterized by antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and immune complex-type glomerulonephritis. ANA production was related to the dose of virus and reached the highest levels at 8-16 wk. The incidence of glomerulonephritis was also correlated with the dose of virus and reached nearly 50% in the animals given the highest virus dose. Both titers of ANA and incidence of glomerulonephritis were greater in females than in males, although the amounts of Mu gs-1 in sera of both sexes were equal. The incidence of direct Coombs' positivity was not significantly affected by inoculation of this virus. The incidence and time of onset of thymocytic lymphoma were linearly related to the amount of virus inoculated. High serum Mu gs-1 levels predicted lymphoma development and reflected increases in the amount of infectious virus in the spleen. No induction of tumors, autoimmunity, or high serum Mu gs-1 levels followed administration of SLV 60A to 6-wk old (BALB/c x NZB)F(1) mice or inactivated 60A or active AKR virus to newborns.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Epidemiological studies of the human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I), a type-C retrovirus of the human T-lymphotropic virus family, have used serological surveys to identify population subgroups possessing a high prevalence of naturally occurring HTLV-I-specific antibodies. Studies carried out to delineate the global distribution of the virus have demonstrated natural antibodies to HTLV-I in the serum of healthy donors from specific geographical areas, and have defined viral endemic areas in Japan, the Caribbean basin, Africa and the southeastern United States. Such studies have suggested that the prevalence of HTLV-I antibodies is directly correlated with age, is associated with the clinical syndrome of adult T-cell lymphoma, and is associated with transmission from mother to child. A separate subtype of the human retrovirus, HTLV-II (refs 21, 22), has also been identified. The population of Israel in part comprises groups of immigrants of various ethnic and geographical origins. Because of this, and the fact that Israel has a highly developed public health system, we surmised that the ethnic groups in Israel could be used in a seroepidemiological survey of HTLV infection. The serological survey reported here demonstrates a high prevalence of HTLV-I antibodies in new immigrants from Ethiopia. This previously ethnically and geographically isolated group, the 'Black Jews' or 'Falashas', from the Gondar region in the northern rural highlands of Ethiopia, has the highest endemic rate of HTLV-I yet reported outside Japan.
OBJECTIVE: We examined the relation between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific functional immune responses, as measured by HIV-1 antigen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and beta-chemokine production after immunization with gp120-depleted, inactivated HIV-1 in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (i.e., HIV-1 Immunogen; REMUNE, The Immune Response Corporation, Carlsbad, CA, U.S.A.). STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: HIV-1-seropositive subjects who enrolled in an open-label study were immunized with REMUNE every 12 weeks and monitored for 60 weeks. HIV-1 antigen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and RANTES production were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). TNF-alpha levels were measured in serum. RESULTS: TNF-alpha (P = 0.0003) significantly decreased and HIV-1 antigen-stimulated RANTES production (P = 0.002) and lymphocyte proliferation (P = 0.07) increased after immunization with REMUNE. TNF-alpha levels negatively correlated with HIV-1 antigen-stimulated RANTES production (r = -0.71; P = 0.0002) and lymphocyte proliferation (r = -0.37; P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated decreased TNF-alpha levels with a concomitant augmentation of HIV-specific functional immunity in subjects immunized with REMUNE. Because TNF-alpha has been implicated in the induction of anergy in HIV-1 infection, the ability to decrease TNF-alpha may allow the immune system to respond to HIV and non-HIV antigens. Larger studies are being conducted to confirm the clinical utility of REMUNE in combination with potent antiviral drugs.