IMMUNOPATHOLOGY OF NATURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL LYMPHOMAS INDUCED BY WILD MOUSE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 104  (3) , 272-282
Abstract
Naturally occurring lymphomas of Lake Casitas (LC) wild mice and the lymphomas induced by LC murine leukemia virus (MuLV) in Swiss mice from the National Institutes of Health [Maryland, USA], displayed remarkably similar gross, microscopic and functional characteristics. They spared the thymus, arose primarily in the splenic red pulp, became leukemic, and were comprised of stem cells lacking classic T and B cell markers. Cytoplasmic and surface Ig were undetectable in 34 of 35 spontaneous LC lymphomas and in any of 10 LC MuLV-induced lymphomas in NIH Swiss mice. Assays for Ig secretion, complement (C3) and Fc receptors, Thy 1.1,2 antigens, Ly 1,2 antigens and erythroid and myeloid markers were negative on all of the spontaneous and experimental lymphomas. Cell lines were derived from 5 spontaneous lymphomas of LC mice. Three lines were characterized as null cells, 1 line as B cells and 1 line as macrophages. All cell lines were diploid. The wild mouse spontaneous lymphomas and lymphomas experimentally induced by LC MuLV in laboratory mice provide a useful model for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and for study of the early steps of B lymphocyte differentiation.