Horizontally and vertically transmitted oncornaviruses of cats

Unrecognized "AIDS" in Monkeys, 1969-1980: Explanations and Implications

AIDS was recognized in humans in 1981 and a simian form was described in the years 1983 to 1985. However, beginning in the late 1960s, outbreaks of opportunistic infections of AIDS were seen in monkeys in the United States. This apparent syndrome went unrecognized at the time. We have assembled those early cases in monkeys and offer reasons why they did not result in earlier recognition of simian or human AIDS, including weaknesses in understanding disease mechanisms, absence of evidence of human retroviruses, and a climate of opinion that devalued investigation of infectious disease and immunologic origins of disease. The "epistemological obstacle" explains important elements of this history in that misconceptions blocked understanding of the dependent relationship among viral infection, immunodeficiency, and opportunistic diseases. Had clearer understanding of the evidence from monkeys allowed human AIDS to be recognized earlier, life-saving prevention and treatment interventions might have been implemented sooner.

Immune-based therapies for treatment of HIV infection

OBJECTIVE

To review the in vitro, animal, and clinical data on immune-based therapies for treatment of HIV infection.

DATA SOURCES

An extensive MEDLINE search was performed for interleukins, interferons, immunotoxins, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-directed agents, vaccines, and gene therapy.

STUDY SELECTION

In vitro experiments with immune-based agents in cell lines infected with HIV were included. In addition, all human studies and case reports that used these agents in patients infected with HIV were selected. Additional literature included abstracts from international meetings on HIV and AIDS.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data regarding activity, efficacy, and toxicity were extracted from in vitro and in vivo studies. When conflicting data were observed, both viewpoints were stated to give an unbiased analysis. Because HIV research involves multiple social, ethical, and scientific issues, perspectives on these problems were addressed, where appropriate.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Current antiretroviral therapy is limited to short-term responses and has minimal effect on overall survival. Because the human immune response to HIV infection is effective at keeping the virus suppressed for a number of years, a focus of HIV research has been to examine immune-based therapies for treatment of HIV infection that attempt to augment enhance, or boost the patient's immune system. Interleukins, interferons, immunotoxins, TNF-directed therapies, vaccines, and gene therapy have been studied in patients infected with HIV. Properties shared among these therapeutic modalities include adverse effect profiles, response rates dependent on baseline immunocompetence, the potential to activate viral replication, the need for supportive care, and sensitive laboratory tests required for monitoring.

CONCLUSIONS

Immune-based agents represent a new approach to the treatment of HIV infection. Whereas antiretrovirals only inhibit viral replication, these agents are designed to enhance the immune system of the patient. Future attempts to manage HIV infection may combine standard nucleoside analogs with immune-based therapies.

Insertional mutagenesis of flvi-2 in tumors induced by infection with LC-FeLV, a myc-containing strain of feline leukemia virus

LC-FeLV is a myc-containing strain of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) which exhibits only partial transforming activity in vitro and in vivo. LC-FeLV infection in kittens may induce, but does not necessarily induce, thymic lymphosarcoma in viremic animals after a short latency. These observations suggest that infection with LC-FeLV is not sufficient to induce complete transformation and that another genetic event(s) is required. One possibility for such an event is that the integrating provirus acts as an insertional mutagen and thereby disrupts the structure or function of another proto-oncogene. Using a strategy of transposon tagging, this possibility was examined in eight feline T-cell lymphosarcomas, including four induced by experimental infection with LC-FeLV, three induced by natural infection with FeLV, and one FeLV-negative tumor. The analysis demonstrated one locus, termed flvi-2, to be structurally altered in six of the tumors examined, including three induced by LC-FeLV and three in which no activated myc oncogene is apparent. Inverse polymerase chain reaction was used to demonstrate the presence and transcriptional orientation of proviruses integrated at flvi-2 in five of these tumors. The flvi-2 locus does not hybridize to cloned probes representing 21 previously identified proto-oncogenes or common domains of retroviral integration. Thus, the data suggest that interruption of the flvi-2 locus cooperates with the myc oncogene in the induction of T-cell lymphomas by LC-FeLV; indeed, the observations indicate that the insertional mutagenesis of flvi-2 plays a role in T-cell lymphomagenesis even in the absence of feline v-myc.

Evaluation of immunosuppressive effect and efficacy of an improved-potency feline leukaemia vaccine

An inactivated feline leukaemia vaccine was tested to determine if process improvements would permit it to be effectively used in a two-dose primary regimen versus the three-dose regimen required for a previous vaccine. Twenty-five cats were vaccinated with two subcutaneous doses given 3 weeks apart. Vaccinates and controls were artificially immunosuppressed to enhance susceptibility to challenge, and inoculated with virulent feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) 2 weeks after the second dose. Following challenge, seven (28%) vaccinates became persistently viraemic, versus six (60%) controls. Nine (36%) other vaccinates became transiently viraemic and nine were aviraemic. The mean postvaccination ELISA gp70 antibody value was 0.796 for aviraemic vaccinates, 0.575 for transiently viraemic vaccinates, and 0.350 for persistently viraemic vaccinates. Eighteen of 25 vaccinates had a postvaccination antibody response greater than or equal to 32 to feline oncornavirus associated cell membrane antigen. Seven of 25 (28%) vaccinates developed postvaccination virus neutralization (VN) antibody titres, and 16 of 25 (64%) developed postchallenge VN antibody titres. One of 10 controls developed postchallenge VN antibody titres. An in vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis assay to evaluate immunosuppressive effects of vaccination revealed no significant difference in the mean stimulation index for vaccinates versus controls. Results indicated that vaccination with two doses was an effective immunoprophylactic regimen in the face of FeLV challenge severe enough to produce persistent viraemia in 60% of non-vaccinated controls.

Tumorigenic potential of a myc-containing strain of feline leukemia virus in vivo in domestic cats

The oncogenic capacity of a myc-containing strain of feline leukemia virus (FeLV), termed LC-FeLV, has been examined after inoculation of the virus into neonatal kittens. Like other myc-containing strains of FeLV, LC-FeLV may induce with relatively short latency, but does not necessarily induce, thymic lymphosarcoma in viremic animals. Naturally occurring and experimentally induced tumors are T-cell lymphomas which contain clonally integrated LC-FeLV proviral DNA and which cannot readily be cultivated in vitro in the presence or absence of exogenously supplied interleukin-2. Acquisition of myc by FeLV decreases the period of latency before the appearance of tumors but does not expand the spectrum of tumors induced by FeLV alone.

HIV-mediated immunodepression: in vitro inhibition of T-lymphocyte proliferative response by ultraviolet-inactivated virus

In order to assess whether the human retrovirus HIV, like other animal retroviruses, is endowed with intrinsic immunosuppressive activity, we studied the effects of noninfectious, uv-irradiated virus on in vitro lymphocyte function. uvHIV preparations inhibited T-cell proliferation to mitogens and alloantigens, as well as mitogen-driven IL-2 production. The inhibitory effect, which was not exerted by uv-irradiated HTLV-I, was apparently not due to a decrease in cell viability and was likely associated with thermoresistant viral component(s). The suppression proved to be selective for T-cell responses, while sparing other lymphocyte functions, such as the B-cell proliferative response to a selective B-cell mitogen. The inhibitory effect of uvHIV was not counteracted by a substantial reduction in the number of monocytes or by indomethacin. Moreover, IL-1 production by monocytes was not affected upon virus incubation. On the other hand, the proliferative response of both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell clones was inhibited by uvHIV, suggesting that T cells represent the actual target for the inhibitory effect. Although a sizeable decrease in IL-2 production was observed following uvHIV incubation, exogenous IL-2 was not capable of reversing the virus-induced suppression of the proliferation. The possibility that the immunosuppressive activity of noninfectious HIV contributes to the T-cell defect in infected patients by mechanisms other than the cytopathic effect on CD4+ T lymphocytes is discussed.

Feline leukemia/sarcoma viruses and immunodeficiency

This chapter discusses the structure feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and pathogenesis of lymphomas and leukemias BY FeLV. FeLV is quite similar to the better-studied murine leukemia viruses in structure and genetic map. The virus particles bud from cytoplasmic membranes into either extracellular spaces or into vacuoles. FeLV has long been considered a typical noncytopathogenic, longlatency leukemia virus based on its behavior in fibroblasts in vitro . Recent evidence suggests that its in vivo behavior in critical target hemolymphatic tissues is as likely to be cytopathic as transforming. The type of FeLV-related disease that occurs and the disease-free interval probably are influenced by viral envelope proteins and glycoproteins and the consequences of proviral integration. FeLV subgroup specificity apparently determines when and what type of disease will occur. The ecotropic FeLV-A is the most frequent subgroup found in pet cats and is transmitted contagiously. Immunosuppression is the most frequent and the most devastating manifestation of FeLV viremia in clinical and experimental studies. It seems that multiple cell types and multiple processes are involved in the development of feline retrovirus-induced immunosuppression. Although no solid evidence is available for the malfunctioning of cat T helper cells because of the paucity of T-cell specific markers, the circumstantial evidence provided thus far indicates an impaired T helper function in FeLV-infected cats similar to that observed in humans infected with HIV. Studies on the pathogenesis of FeLV-induced immunosuppression might provide a valuable mode for a better understanding and means of control of human AIDS.

Localization of neutralizing regions of the envelope gene of feline leukemia virus by using anti-synthetic peptide antibodies

We synthesized 27 synthetic peptides corresponding to approximately 80% of the sequences encoding gp70 and p15E of Gardner-Arnstein feline leukemia virus (FeLV) subtype B. The peptides were conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and injected into rabbits for preparation of antipeptide antisera. These sera were then tested for their ability to neutralize a broad range of FeLV isolates in vitro. Eight peptides elicited neutralizing responses against subtype B isolates. Five of these peptides corresponded to sequences of gp70 and three to p15E. The ability of these antipeptide antisera to neutralize FeLV subtypes A and C varied. In certain circumstances, failure to neutralize a particular isolate corresponded to sequence changes within the corresponding peptide region. However, four antibodies which preferentially neutralized the subtype B viruses were directed to epitopes in common with Sarma subtype C virus. These results suggest that distal changes in certain subtypes (possibly glycosylation differences) alter the availability of certain epitopes in one virus isolate relative to another. We prepared a "nest" of overlapping peptides corresponding to one of the neutralizing regions of gp70 and performed slot blot analyses with both antipeptide antibodies and a monoclonal antibody which recognized this epitope. We were able to define a five-amino-acid sequence required for reactivity. Comparisons were made between an anti-synthetic peptide antibody and a monoclonal antibody reactive to this epitope for the ability to bind both peptide and virus, as well as to neutralize virus in vitro. Both the anti-synthetic peptide and the monoclonal antibodies bound peptide and virus to high titers. However, the monoclonal antibody had a 4-fold-higher titer against virus and a 10-fold-higher neutralizing titer than did the anti-synthetic peptide antibody. Competition assays were performed with these two antibodies adjusted to equivalent antivirus titers against intact virions affixed to tissue culture plates. The monoclonal antibody had a greater ability to compete for virus binding, which suggested that differences in neutralizing titers may relate to the relative affinities of these antisera for the peptide conformation in the native structure.

Virus-induced immunosuppression

Infection with a variety of viruses results in the suppression of the host's immune system. Several mechanisms thought to be responsible for this effect are discussed: infection and alteration of lymphocytes and macrophages, production of soluble suppressor factors, and the induction of suppressor cells. The clinical significance of virus-induced immunosuppression is also discussed.

Humoral immune response of asymptomatic cats naturally infected with feline leukemia virus

The humoral immune response of cats that were naturally infected with the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was examined after antigenic stimulation with the synthetic antigen poly(L-Tyr, L-Glu)-poly(DL-Ala)-poly(L-Lys). The primary humoral antibody response in FeLV-infected cats was both delayed and greatly reduced, compared with that seen in uninfected control cats. A similar discordance was observed after secondary stimulation with the antigen, in the FeLV-infected cats had both a delayed response and a reduced response, compared with uninfected cats. The levels of total immunoglobulins of the immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M classes in the sera of FeLV-infected cats were significantly higher (two- and threefold, respectively) than were those of the uninfected control animals. The presence of an impaired humoral immune response to newly presented antigens in the presence of elevated immunoglobulin levels has been thoroughly documented in the case of people with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This further emphasizes the potential value of FeLV-infected cats as a model for human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Molecular analysis and pathogenesis of the feline aplastic anemia retrovirus, feline leukemia virus C-Sarma

We describe the molecular cloning of an anemogenic feline leukemia virus (FeLV), FeLV-C-Sarma, from the productively infected human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line RD(FeLV-C-S). Molecularly cloned FeLV-C-S proviral DNA yielded infectious virus (mcFeLV-C-S) after transfection of mammalian cells, and virus interference studies using transfection-derived virus demonstrated that our clone encodes FeLV belonging to the C subgroup. mcFeLV-C-S did not induce viremia in eight 8-week-old outbred specific-pathogen-free (SPF) cats. It did, however, induce viremia and a rapid, fatal aplastic anemia due to profound suppression of erythroid stem cell growth in 9 of 10 inoculated newborn, SPF cats within 3 to 8 weeks (21 to 58 days) postinoculation. Thus, the genome of mcFeLV-C-S encodes the determinants responsible for the genetically dominant induction of irreversible erythroid aplasia in outbred cats. A potential clue to the pathogenic determinants of this virus comes from previous work indicating that all FeLV isolates belonging to the C subgroup, an envelop-gene-determined property, and only those belonging to the C subgroup, are potent, consistent inducers of aplastic anemia in cats. To approach the molecular mechanism underlying the induction of this disease, we first determined the nucleotide sequence of the envelope genes and 3' long terminal repeat of FeLV-C-S and compared it with that of FeLV-B-Gardner-Arnstein (mcFeLV-B-GA), a subgroup-B feline leukemia virus that consistently induces a different disease, myelodysplastic anemia, in neonatal SPF cats. Our analysis revealed that the p15E genes and long terminal repeats of the two FeLV strains are highly homologous, whereas there are major differences in the gp70 proteins, including five regions of significant amino acid differences and apparent sequence substitution. Some of these changes are also reflected in predicted glycosylation sites; the gp70 protein of FeLV-B-GA has 11 potential glycosylation sites, only 8 of which are present in FeLV-C-S.

Molecular analysis of several classes of endogenous feline leukemia virus elements

Five recombinant DNA clones of endogenous feline leukemia virus-related DNA sequences were isolated by screening a lambda phage genomic library of cat placental DNA with a probe specific to the gag-pol region of infectious feline leukemia virus. The clones containing retroviral long terminal repeat-like sequences demonstrated the existence of different size classes of endogenous elements in the cat genome, including those of nearly full length in which the gag region is heterogeneous but all of pol and most of env are highly conserved. Other size classes included elements with major deletions in gag or pol. A genomic DNA analysis suggested that the majority of endogenous elements were close to full length in size and that the highly truncated sequences which we described previously (Soe et al., J. Virol. 46:829-840, 1983) represented only a subset of the elements present. A restriction analysis of genomic DNA suggested a high degree of conservation in pol and the 5' portion of env among the various endogenous sequences present in the cat genome. We also found by using DNA transfection that while all of the endogenous clones were noninfectious, there was differential expression of the elements which we examined. These findings correlate with the subgenomic expression of endogenous feline leukemia virus sequences in cat placental tissue.

The nature of immunity to Snyder-Theilen fibrosarcoma virus induced tumors in cats

Snyder-Theilen fibrosarcoma virus (ST-FeSV) induced tumors evoked a vigorous immune response in adolescent cats. The response was characterized histologically by a lymphoid and histiocytic cell infiltrate beginning around the 9th day post inoculation. Hyperemia edema, hemorrhage, and necrosis of the tumors occurred shortly thereafter. Gross regression of the tumors commenced around the 15th day. Viable fibrosarcoma cells could be recovered as almost pure cultures from tumors biopsied on the 9th day. Biopsies taken between days 9 and 15 contained progressively fewer tumor cells and increasing numbers of lymphoid cells, histiocytes, giant cells, and normal fibroblasts. Tumor cells in such mixed cultures did not replicate as fast as normal and died out within 7 to 14 days. Viable tumor cells were not recovered from biopsies taken after day 15. Fibrosarcoma regression was associated with the appearance of tumor cell specific cytotoxic lymphocytes and antibodies in the blood. Cell mediated immunity, as determined by a chromium release assay, consisted of both antibody dependent and independent mechanisms. Fluorescent and complement dependent cytolytic antibodies were detected in the blood at the same time as cytotoxic lymphocytes, but persisted after regression. In a preliminary experiment, serum from tumor regressor cats was injected into susceptible kittens, and the kittens were then challenged with ST-FeSV transformed fibroblasts or whole FeSV. Immune serum did not prevent the appearance of initial growth of tumors, but did slow their subsequent growth and increased the rate of regression. Immune serum had a much more dramatic inhibitory effect on the accompanying retrovirus infection.

Genetic analysis of the feline RD-114 retrovirus-related endogenous elements

The structure of the multiple copies of the endogenous RD-114 retroviral sequences in the domestic cat were compared by restriction mapping of cloned and genomic DNAs. Six different clones, each representing a different loci, were randomly chosen from 20 clones isolated from a cat DNA library. Whereas all clones contained viral structural sequences which were extensively homologous to the gag and pol regions of exogenous RD-114, they varied from each other in the extent of deletions (0.7-1.9 kilobase pairs) in the env region. Each clone contained a pair of LTRs which bracketed the structural genes, implicating an origin from exogenous infection of a distant ancestor of the domestic cat. Analysis of genomic DNA from six separate domestic cats also indicated that the majority of the RD-114 endogenous loci contained variably deleted env and conserved gag-pol regions. The occurrence of at least 13 unique RD-114-related loci could be detected in each cat DNA examined. It appeared that among these multiple copies inherited in the cat genome, there is only a single copy which would correspond to the undeleted RD-114 provirus, and which may represent the locus for the inducible RD-114 virus.

The feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen (FOCMA) is related to, but distinguishable from, FeLV-C gp70

The feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen (FOCMA) on the surface of feline lymphosarcoma (LSA) cells is defined as the target(s) recognized in immunofluorescence (IFA) tests by antibody in sera of cats relatively resistant to development of FeLV (feline leukemia virus) LSA and FeSV (feline sarcoma virus) fibrosarcoma. The specificities of antibodies in cat FOCMA-typing sera and the nature of the LSA antigens recognized were investigated in the present study. FOCMA sera obtained from viremic cats were separable into at least two classes : those which contained antibodies against the envelope glycoprotein (gp70) of subgroup C FeLV and those which did not contain antibodies against any subgroup of FeLV. The first class of sera could be further subdivided into three groups: those whose FOCMA reactivity could be completely absorbed, partially absorbed, or not absorbed by FeLV-C antigens. The second class of sera could be further subdivided into two groups: those whose FOCMA reactivity could be partially absorbed and those whose activity could not be absorbed by FeLV-C. The results indicate that the FOCMA reactivity exhibited by some viremic cat sera can be partially, if not entirely, attributed to antibodies not crossreactive with FeLV virion antigens. A consistent property of all FOCMA sera in this study is the ability to bind to 70-kDa proteins on the surface of LSA cells. Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease partial digest maps of 70-kDa proteins purified from 12 primary feline LSAs (five FeLV positive and seven FeLV negative) all showed 18-, 14-, and 10-kDa fragments. V8 maps of FeLV-C gp70 showed similarly sized fragments while the maps of the RD114, FeLV-A, and FeLV-B gp70s were distinct. However, in a subgroup-specific radioimmunoassay for FeLV-C gp70-related antigens, the LSA 70-kDa proteins were found to be serologically related to, but distinct from, FeLV-C gp70. The results on the antigenic variations among LSA 70-kDa proteins and the antibodies which bind them are entirely consistent with previous studies indicating heterogeneity among FOCMA determinants.

Retroviruses in human leukemia

After decades of work, a retrovirus of true human origin has been isolated first from a U.S. adult case of T-cell lymphoma and then from cases from various regions of the world. This virus, named HTLV-I, is strongly associated with a malignant leukemia-lymphoma of mature T-cells. This disease was first clinically characterized in Japan but subsequently found to cluster in the Caribbean region, areas of the U.S. and in other countries. This retrovirus-associated malignancy has an adult onset and usually a rapidly fatal course. Lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, cutaneous infiltration and hypercalcemia are found. HTLV-I has been characterized in detail and shown to be an exogenous retrovirus. HTLV-I infection is detected in normal populations and is endemic in restricted areas of Japan, the Caribbean, South America, and the U.S. Cases of ATL tend to cluster in these areas. Future studies will focus on learning (1) how HTLV-I is transmitted from individual to individual; (2) the nature of the mechanism by which HTLV-I transforms T-cells; (3) whether we can use probes from HTLV-I to detect other (related) retroviruses in other human neoplasms.

Molecular cloning and characterization of endogenous feline leukemia virus sequences from a cat genomic library

Recombinant bacteriophage lambda clones from a cat genomic library derived from placental DNA of a specific pathogen-free cat were screened to identify endogenous feline leukemia virus (FeLV) sequences. Restriction endonuclease mapping of four different clones indicates that there are a number of similarities among them, notably the presence of a 6.0- to 6.4-kilobase pair (kbp) EcoRI hybridizing fragment containing portions of sequences homologous to the gag, pol, env, and long terminal repeat-like elements of the infectious FeLV. The endogenous FeLV sequences isolated are approximately 4 kbp in length and are significantly shorter than the cloned infectious FeLV isolates, which are 8.5 to 8.7 kbp in length. The endogenous elements have 3.3- to 3.6-kbp deletions in the gag-pol region and approximately 0.7- to 1.0-kbp deletions in the env region. These deletions would render them incapable of encoding an infectious virus and may therefore be related to the non-inducibility of FeLV from uninfected cat cells and the subgenomic expression of these endogenous sequences in placental tissue. It appears that there is conservation in the ordering of restriction sites previously reported in the proviruses of the infectious FeLVs in sequences corresponding to the pol and env boundary as well as the region spanning the env gene of the endogenous clones, whereas a greater divergence occurs among restriction sites mapped to the gag and part of the pol regions of the infectious FeLV. Such deleted, FeLV-related subsets of DNA sequences could have originated either by germ-line integration of a complete ecotropic virus followed by deletion, or by integration of a preexisting, defective, deleted variant of the infectious virus.

Nucleotide sequence of the envelope gene of Gardner-Arnstein feline leukemia virus B reveals unique sequence homologies with a murine mink cell focus-forming virus

The nucleotide sequence of the envelope gene and the adjacent 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) of Gardner-Arnstein feline leukemia virus of subgroup B (GA-FeLV-B) has been determined. Comparison of the derived amino acid sequence of the gp70-p15E polyprotein to those of several previously reported murine retroviruses revealed striking homologies between GA-FeLV-B gp70 and the gp70 of a Moloney virus-derived mink cell focus-forming virus. These homologies were located within the substituted (presumably xenotropic) portion of the mink cell focus-forming virus envelope gene and comprised amino acid sequences not present in three ecotropic virus gp70s. In addition, areas of insertions and deletions, in general, were the same between GA-FeLV-B and Moloney mink cell focus-forming virus, although the sizes of the insertions and deletions differed. Homologies between GA-FeLV-B and mink cell focus-forming virus gp70s is functionally significant in that they both possess expanded host ranges, a property dictated by gp70. The amino acid sequence of FeLV-B contains 12 Asn-X-Ser/Thr sequences, indicating 12 possible sites of N-linked glycosylation as compared with 7 or 8 for its murine counterparts. Comparison of the 3' LTR of GA-FeLV-B to AKR and Moloney virus LTRs revealed extensive conservation in several regions including the "CCAAT" and Goldberg-Hogness (TATA) boxes thought to be involved in promotion of transcription and in the repeat region of the LTR. The inverted repeats that flanked the LTR of GA-FeLV-B were identical to the murine inverted repeats, but were one base longer than the latter. The region of U3 corresponding to the approximately 75-nucleotide "enhancer sequence" is present in GA-FeLV-B, but contains deletions relative to AKR and Moloney virus and is not repeated. An interesting pallindrome in the repeat region immediately 3' to the U3 region was noted in all the LTRs, but was particularly pronounced in GA-FeLV-B. Possible roles for this structure are discussed.

Mutant feline sarcoma proviruses containing the viral oncogene (v-fes) and either feline or murine control elements

The sequences required for transformation by the Gardner-Arnstein (GA) strain of feline sarcoma virus (GA-FeSV) were defined by site-directed, in vitro mutagenesis of molecularly cloned proviral DNA. Portions of the Ga-FeSV provirus, subcloned in the plasmid pBR322, were mutagenized by deletion or frameshift at XhoI restriction sites flanking the nucleotide sequences presumed to encode the GA-FeSV transforming polyprotein (P108(gag-fes)). The biological activity of subgenomic and reconstructed full-genome-length molecules was assayed by transfection and focus induction in NIH 3T3 cells. Both mutant and wild-type molecules containing the intact P108(gag-fes) coding region induced foci of transformed cells at efficiencies between 10(4) and 10(5) focus-forming units per pmol of DNA; a deletion mutant lacking 3'-terminal v-fes sequences was completely nontransforming in parallel assays. Representative subcloned foci of transformed NIH 3T3 cells synthesized P108(gag-fes) with associated in vitro protein kinase activity. Focus-forming viruses could be rescued from transformed subclones induced by full-length proviral DNA, but not from cells transformed by subgenomic DNA lacking a 3' long terminal repeat (LTR). It was concluded that: (i) nucleotide sequences encoding P108(gag-fes) and its associated kinase activity are responsible for transformation, (ii) the GA-FeSV 3' env and LTR sequences are not required for focus induction, and (iii) the 3' LTR is necessary for rescue of infectious FeSV RNA. A chimeric DNA containing the 5' LTR and P108(gag-fes) coding region of GA-FeSV joined to the 3' LTR of Moloney murine sarcoma virus was both transforming and rescuable at high efficiency. Restriction analysis showed that passaged stocks of rescued transforming virus contained Moloney murine sarcoma virus U3 sequences at both proviral DNA termini, consistent with generally accepted models for LTR formation during reverse transcription. Wild-type GA-FeSV and the chimeric virus (here designated as GAHT), each rescued from NIH 3T3 cells with the same amphotropic murine leukemia virus, yielded approximately equal numbers of foci when titrated on CCL 64 mink cells. By contrast, on mouse NIH 3T3 cells, the focus-forming titer of GAHT was 1 to 2 log higher than that of FeSV. The foci induced on NIH 3T3 cells by GAHT appeared earlier and were reproducibly larger than those induced by GA-FeSV. Differences in transforming activity on NIH 3T3 cells were also found using colony formation in agar, showing that the more rapid appearance and larger size of foci formed in liquid media were not due to virus spread. These data suggest that transcriptional control signals within the viral LTR regulate the levels of the transforming gene product in a species-specific manner.

The human type-C retrovirus, HTLV, in Blacks from the Caribbean region, and relationship to adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

Type-C RNA tumor viruses have been implicated in the etiology of naturally occurring leukemias and lymphomas of animals. Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV) is the first human virus of this class consistently identified in association with a specific type of human leukemia/lymphoma. The isolation of HTLV was made possible by the ability to grow mature T-cells in tissue culture usually with T-cell growth factor (TCGF). We now report a cluster of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma among Blacks from the Caribbean in which all eight cases are positive for HTLV virus and/or antibody. These patients have disease that appears indistinguishable from Japanese adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma which, as we have also reported, is associated with HTLV in over 90% of cases. The finding of HTLV antibodies in some of the normal population in the Caribbean and Japan, and the clustering of a specific form of T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in these virus-endemic areas, suggest that HTLV infection may be associated with the occurrence of a distinctive clinico-pathologic entity.

Genetic mapping in mammals: chromosome map of domestic cat

A genetic map of 31 biochemical loci located on 17 feline syntenic (linkage) groups has been derived by somatic cell genetic analysis of cat-rodent hybrids. Most of these syntenic groups have been assigned to one of the 19 feline chromosomes. Comparative linkage analysis of the feline biochemical loci and homologous human loci revealed considerable conservation of linkage associations between the primates and the Felidae (order Carnivora). Many of these same linkage groups have not been conserved in the murine genome. The genetic and evolutionary implications of comparative mapping analysis among mammalian species are discussed.

Selective host range restriction of goat cells for recombinant murine leukemia virus and feline leukemia virus type A

We isolated a strain of normal goat fibroblasts which was uniquely selective in that it allowed the replication of xenotropic murine leukemia virus but not polytropic recombinant murine leukemia virus. In addition, feline leukemia virus type A replication was severely diminished in these goat cells, whereas feline leukemia virus type B and feline endogenous RD114-CCC viruses replicated efficiently. No other known cells exhibit this pattern of virus growth restriction. These goat cells allow the study of xenotropic murine leukemia virus in mixtures which also contain recombinant murine leukemia virus and may be helpful in eliminating feline leukemia virus type which often coexists in feline sarcoma or leukemia virus mixtures with other feline leukemia virus types.

Wild mouse ecotropic murine leukemia virus infection of inbred mice: dual-tropic virus expression precedes the onset of paralysis and lymphoma

NFS/N mice inoculated at birth with an ecotropic murine leukemia virus (Cas-Br-MuLV) obtained from wild mice developed hind limb paralysis beginning at 7 weeks of age and nonthymic lymphomas beginning at more than 20 weeks of age. Studies of 1- to 7-week-old Cas-Br-M MuLV-infected mice showed the following: (i) a marked increase in nonecotropic MuLV-related antigens on spleen cells but not thymocytes beginning at 2 weeks; (ii) the appearance of dual-tropic mink cell focus-forming (MCF) MuLV-related gp70 in spleen but not thymus or brain cells at 4 weeks; and (iii) the isolation of infectious MCF MuLV from spleen cells of 7-week-old mice. A role for MCF MuLV in Cas-Br-M MuLV-induced nonthymic lymphomas is indicated by these studies, and a role for recombinant MuLV in neurological disease is considered.

Biochemical characterization of cells transformed via transfection by feline sarcoma virus proviral DNA

Murine fibroblasts transformed by transfection with DNA from mink cells infected with the Snyder-Theilen strain of feline sarcoma virus and subgroup B feline leukemia virus were analyzed for the presence of integrated proviral DNA and the expression of feline leukemia virus- and feline sarcoma virus-specific proteins. The transformed murine cells harbored at least one intact feline sarcoma virus provirus, but did not contain feline leukemia virus provirus. The transformed murine cells expressed an 85,000-dalton protein that was precipitated by antisera directed against feline leukemia virus p12, p15, and p30 proteins. No feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen reactivity was detected on the surfaces of the transformed murine cells by indirect membrane immunofluorescence techniques. The 85,000-dalton feline sarcoma virus-specific protein was also found in feline cells transformed by transfection. However, these cells also contained env gene products. The results of this study demonstrate that the feline sarcoma virus genome is sufficient to transform murine cells and that expression of the 85,000-dalton gag-x protein is associated with transformation of both murine and feline cells transformed by transfection.

Comparative analysis of the genomes of feline leukemia viruses

The genomes of several strains of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) were compared by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the large RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides of the 70S RNA. Differences between each strain of FeLV tested were detected by this method. We estimate that the degree of sequence identity between the viruses is: FeLV A (Glasgow-1) to FeLV B (Snyder-Theilen), 52%; FeLV A (Glasgow-1) to FeLV C(Sarma), 66%; FeLV B(Snyder-Theilen) to FeLV C (Sarma), 37%. The fingerprints of two independent isolates of FeLV strains of subgroup A (Glasgow-1 and Rickard) were detectably different. We conclude that the RNase T1 oligonucleotide fingerprint pattern provides a useful tool for identification of FeLV strains.

Three independent isolates of feline sarcoma virus code for three distinct gag-x polyproteins

Cells nonproductively transformed by the Snyder-Theilen, Gardner-Arnstein, and McDonough strains of feline sarcoma virus synthesize gag-x polyproteins of 78,000, 100,000, and 180,000 daltons, respectively. These feline sarcoma virus-coded products were precipitated by antisera to polypeptides encoded by the gag gene of feline leukemia virus and by rat antisera raised to feline sarcoma virus-transformed rat tumor cells. Precipitation with rat antisera absorbed with feline leukemia virus showed that the x-portions of the three gag-x proteins were each antigenically distinct, suggesting that the src genes of the three independent isolates are not identical. Anti-x sera did not precipitate products from radiolabeled cat lymphoid tumor cells (FL74) and therefore lacked reactivity to the feline leukemia virus-induced tumor-specific antigen, FOCMA.

Molecular cloning of Snyder-Theilen feline leukemia and sarcoma viruses: comparative studies of feline sarcoma virus with its natural helper virus and with Moloney murine sarcoma virus

Extrachromosomal DNA obtained from mink cells acutely infected with the Snyder-Theilen (ST) strain of feline sarcoma virus (feline leukemia virus) [FeSV(FeLV)] was fractionated electrophoretically, and samples enriched for FeLV and FeSV linear intermediates were digested with EcoRI and cloned in lambda phage. Hybrid phages were isolated containing either FeSV or FeLV DNA "inserts" and were characterized by restriction enzyme analysis, R-looping with purified 26 to 32S viral RNA, and heteroduplex formation. The recombinant phages (designated lambda FeSV and lambda FeLV) contain all of the genetic information represented in FeSV and FeLV RNA genomes but lack one extended terminally redundant sequence of 750 bases which appears once at each end of parental linear DNA intermediates. Restriction enzyme and heteroduplex analyses confirmed that sequences unique to FeSV (src sequences) are located at the center of the FeSV genome and are approximately 1.5 kilobase pairs in length. With respect to the 5'-3' orientation of genes in viral RNA, the order of genes in the FeSV genome is 5'-gag-src-env-c region-3'; only 0.9 kilobase pairs of gag and 0.6 kilobase pairs of env-derived FeLV sequences are represented in ST FeSV. Heteroduplex analyses between lambda FeSV or lambda FeLV DNA and Moloney murine sarcoma virus DNA (strain m1) were performed under conditions of reduced stringency to demonstrate limited regions of base pair homology. Two such regions were identified: the first occurs at the extreme 5' end of the leukemia and both sarcoma viral genomes, whereas the second corresponds to a 5' segment of leukemia virus "env" sequences conserved in both sarcoma viruses. The latter sequences are localized at the 3' end of FeSV src and at the 5' end of murine sarcoma virus src and could possibly correspond to regions of helper virus genomes that are required for retroviral transforming functions.

Enhancement of feline leukemia virus-induced leukemogenesis in cats exposed to methylnitrosourea

The effect of methylnitrosourea (MNU), a potent resorptive carcinogen, was evaluated for its influence on the susceptibility of adult cats to infection and induction of oncornavirus disease by feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Young adult cats at an age previously demonstrated to be highly resistant to FeLV, were injected intravenously with moderately toxic doses (15-20 mg/kg) of MNU alone or with infections FeLV (Rickard strain). Following exposure to virus and chemical, cats were monitored for antibody to the feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen (FOCMA), viremia by direct infectivity and the presence of gsa in peripheral blood leukocytes, and for toxic effects of MNU by hemogram analyses on peripheral blood. Of 8 cats injected with MNU + FeLV, 6 developed persistent viremia, 5 of which became debilitated from thymic lymphoma. Only 1 of 6 non-MNU-treated and infected cats of the same age became transiently viremic. FOCMA antibody development was markedly depressed in MNU + FeLV inoculated cats compared with cats inoculated with FeLV alone. Results show that MNU was apparently responsible for the obliteration of age-related susceptibility in cats to FeLV infection and induction of FeLV-related disease, and suggest that in nature exposure to toxic chemical carcinogens may act as factors which determine susceptibility to feline oncornaviruses in the cat.

Cell-surface antigens induced by RNA tumour viruses

Host animals show an immune response to the surface of cells infected with RNA tumour viruses. An element of this response is due to expression of viral structural antigens, but the major part is due to virus-induced cell-surface antigens (CSAs). This article compares the properties of CSAs of the avian, murine and feline retrovirus systems.