Oncogenic Retrovirus from Spontaneous Murine Osteomas. I. Isolation and Biological Characterization

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Abstract
Spontaneous osteomas in strain 101 mice, a strain which has a high incidence of benign bone tumors, harbor numerous C-type virus-like particles with pleomorphic characteristics. A cell-free extract from osteomas from 2 mice induced bone tumors, together with osteopetrosis and lymphomas, in newborn mice of the low incidence NMRI strain after a latent period of 12-15 mo. When C3H embryo fibroblasts were infected with the osteoma extract, the resulting cell line produced virus (OA MuLVc) with a high titer. OA MuLVc was cloned by serial endpoint dilution and NIH 3T3 cells were productively infected. The resulting virus was named OA MuLVN, OA MuLVc and OA MuLVN also induced bone tumors, osteopetrosis and lymphomas 12-15 mo. after injection into newborn NMRI mice. The isolated virus showed typical characteristics of the murine retrovirus group. Fv-1 host range restriction assays classified the viruses as N-ecotropic and XC-positive. Tryptic p30 peptide analysis and RNase T1 fingerprint analysis of OA MuLVc and OA MuLVN indicated that OA MuLVc contains an Akv-like virus as well as additional components. OA MuLVN is closely related to Akv, but not identical to it. Serological analysis of the envelope proteins using monoclonal antibodies also showed the virus to be similar, but not identical, to Akv virus.