Coombs-positive Hemolytic Anemia and Generalized Amyloidosis in Mice Following Transmission of Subcellular Leukemic Material.

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Abstract
Summary Following transmission with cell-free supernatant fluid or with virus extract of leukemic tissue or plasma from various types of murine plasma cell leukemias a disease developed, characterized by hyper-gammaglobulinemia, weight loss, anemia, marked splenic, renal and hepatic amyloidosis and plasma cell infiltrations in the lungs. The disease was also transmissible through the placenta or with the milk of infected mice. In DBA/2 males the incidence of the disease was much higher (100%), the survival shorter and the anemia much more severe than was the case in DBA/2 females and in (DBA/2 × CBA) Fimice of both sexes. It is proposed that the development of the lesions is mediated through an autoimmune mechanism created by the antigenic effect of the virus-transformed host cells. Addendum: Dmochowski (Symposium on Current Research in Leukaemia, Cambridge Univ. Press, in press) has reported on the presence of Mycoplasma (PPLO) in the blood of leukaemic mice and in the blood of leukaemic patients, in addition to the presence of characteristic virus particles. We have also recently observed particles, that may be interpreted as Mycoplasma in the blood of leukaemic mice. Some of the lesions described in the present paper may conceivably be caused by Mycoplasma. This may apply particularly to the observed lung lesion and to the Coombs-postive red cell test. The possible presence of Reovirus Type 3 may also be taken into consideration. Studies along these lines are now in progress.