Interaction between cellular and viral genes in the expression of the RSV-induced transformation-specific cell-surface antigen VCSA

Characterization of T lymphocytes mediating in vivo protection against RSV-induced murine sarcomas

Tumors induced by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) in different mouse strains share a common tumor-associated transplantation antigen, whose expression is controlled both by the viral transforming src gene and by cellular gene(s) (Prat et al., 1981). The mechanism(s) responsible for the in vivo protective immune response against two RSV-induced sarcomas has now been investigated. In the "Winn assay" the growth of both tumors was specifically prevented or significantly reduced by the simultaneous administration of lymphocytes isolated from immunized donors. The effector cells were radiosensitive (2,500 rad), Lyt-1+, Lyt-2,3+ Thy.1+ cells. Better protection was afforded by transfer of immune spleen cells from mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide, which is known to abrogate T-cell suppressor activity. In a 5-day mixed lymphocyte/tumor cell culture specific anti-RSV-induced sarcoma cytotoxic activity was barely detected, while a good production of interferon-gamma (IFN-y) was observed. The cells involved showed the same functional and surface phenotype as displayed by the effectors of the "Winn" assay. It is concluded that in the immune rejection of RSV-induced sarcomas, Lyt-1+, Lyt-2,3+ T cells, rather than cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and lymphokines such as IFN-gamma are involved.

Dissection of the antigenic determinants expressed on the cell surface of RSV-transformed fibroblasts by monoclonal antibodies

Fusion of P3/X63-Ag8 mouse myeloma cells with splenocytes obtained from mice hyperimmunized with a BHK hamster fibroblast line transformed by an env-strain of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) resulted in the production of antibody-secreting hybridomas. Seven hybrid clones secreted antibodies binding to RSV-transformed BHK fibroblasts but not to the parental control non-transformed line. The antibodies produced by three of these clones did identify antigenic determinants expressed also on BHK cells transformed by SV 40. The antibodies produced by four other clones reacted specifically with cells transformed by RSV but not with cells productively infected by the transformation-defective Rous-associated virus-1; one of these reacted with RSV-transformed hamster cells only, three others identified antigenic determinants common to RSV-transformed cells of different animal species. These data give further support to the idea that RSV-transformed cells express a cell-surface antigen, specific for transformation, the expression of which is controlled by the transforming src gene, and that the specificities carried on it follow a complex pattern, arising from the interaction between antigenic determinants of cellular and viral origin.

Mouse fibroblasts transformed by Rous sarcoma virus express a virus-specific non-virion transplantation antigen

Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed fibroblasts from different animals species a serologically detectable virus-induced non-virion cell surface antigen (VCSA), whose expression is controlled by the transforming viral src gene and by a cellular gene. Now, by in vivo immunization, we have found that RSV-transformed fibroblasts from different mouse strains share a virus-specific transplantation antigen. In fact, only animals immunized with irradiated syngeneic or allogeneic fibroblasts transformed by RSV, but not animals immunized with cells transformed by different oncogenic agents, rejected a lethal dose of syngeneic RSV-induced tumor cells. Immunoprecipitation tests with monospecific antisera showed that the expression of this antigen did not correlate with the presence of intracellular viral proteins other than the src gene product pp60src. However, hyperimmunization of mice with hamster or quail fibroblasts transformed by RSV, that express a high level of pp60src, did not induce transplantation resistance. It is concluded that the expression of both the serologically-defined VCSA and the transplantation antigen is the result of the interaction of pp60src with host cell gene product(s) rather than the simple exposure of pp60src at the outer cell surface.