RNA related to that of a murine leukemia virus in Burkitt's tumors and nasopharyngeal carcinomas

Identification of the RPMI 8226 retrovirus and its dissemination as a significant contaminant of some widely used human and marmoset cell lines

A retrovirus designated RPMI 8226V, isolated in 1973 from the human myeloma cell line RPMI 8226 has been characterized by competition radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the major viral structural protein and by nucleic acid hybridization analysis using cDNA of the virus. The virus is highly related to the squirrel monkey type D retrovirus, SMRV. In the homologous RIA using rabbit anti-RPMI 8226V and 125I-labelled p37 of RPMI 8226V, RPMI 8226V and SMRV exhibited competition of 81% and 73% respectively. Similarly, in the homologous system for SMRV p36, these viruses competed 98 and 100%. Reagents made from the type D retrovirus. Mason Pfizer Monkey Virus (MPMV), known to be related but distinct from SMRV, were used in assays designed to detect interspecies determinants of type D retroviruses. In assays using goat anti-MPMVp26 vs SMRV 125I-p36, RPMI 8226V, SMRV and MPMV competed to the same extent (93%). Hybridization analysis of RPMI 8226V cDNA showed significant homology to cellular RNA and DNA of mink, bat, and human cell infected with RPMI 8226V and to DNA or SMRV infected cells but not to uninfected cells or cells infected with other viruses. These results taken together clearly indicate that RPMI 8226V and SMRV are very closely related to each other. The finding of a type D retrovirus in this human myeloma cell line that had been used in EBV studies (the usual source of EBV being the marmoset cell line B95-8) prompted a survey of RPMI 8226V in some human and marmoset cell lines. The assays included the RIA for p36, nucleic acid hybridization using cDNA of RPMI 8226V, reverse transcriptase analysis and electron microscopy (EM). The results clearly show that in addition to RPMI 8226, human Burkitt lymphoma cells BJAB/B-95-8/K which were supertransformed by EBV from B-95-8/K marmoset cells as well as marmoset cell lines [(B-95-8/K and B-95-8/N) obtained from Stockholm and Uppsala, Sweden] were positive for the RPMI 8226V. Similar lines obtained elsewhere were negative. The results obtained clearly indicate that RPMI 8226V is a serious laboratory contamination in some widely used human cell lines. The possible impact of this viral contamination for some virological and cell biological studies is discussed.

Evidence for type-C retrovirus production by Burkitt's lymphoma-derived cell line

Burkitt's lymphoma cell line, P3HR-I, was found to secrete virions with properties of known type-C RNA tumor viruses. The viral particles had a buoyant density of 1.16 g/ml in sucrose gradients and contained a high-molecular-weight RNA and an RNA-instructed DNA polymerase. The viral polymerase was active in an endogenous reaction requiring the presence of the four deoxyriboside triphosphates and manganese ions, and was sensitive to RNase. The DNA product of the endogenous reaction specifically hybridized to P3HR-I viral 60 to 70S RNA. Electron microscopic examination of ultrathin sections of P3HR-I cells revealed immature, mature and budding virions typical of type-C retroviridae. Nucleic acid hybridization assays showed no sequence homoblastosis virus, murine oncornaviruses, simian sarcoma virus or RD114 virus.

Particles from mouse melanoma B16 containing reverse transcriptase and 70S RNA related to human melanoma cytoplasmic RNA

The mouse melanoma B16 contains particles encapsulating high molecular weight RNA of 60--70S size associated with a reverse transcriptase. The [3H]DNA synthesized by these particles possesses homology with RNA isolated from a hamster melanoma and from three human malignant melanomas.

Conditions required for induction of murine p30 by herpes simplex virus

Mouse cells (line N cIA cl10) contain 1.2-2.5 ng murine leukaemia virus (MuLV) p30 antigen/mg of protein; this amount of antigen is measurable by competition radioimmunoassay (RIA) but is not detectable by indirect immunofluorescence (IF). Infection of N cIA cl10 cells with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) induces expression of MuLV p30. Induction by HSV-2 does not require either cell or virus DNA synthesis and is optimal 8 h post infection when cells at 50-70% confluence are infected at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 5-8 PFU/cell. At an MOI of 2.5, 70-80% of the cells express HSV antigens while none of the cells express p30; at an MOI of 5.0, 70-80% of the cells express HSV antigens but 55% of the cells express p30. Using the conditions reported in this paper for preparation of competing antigen, induction of p30 by HSV-2 (strain 333) infection is not measurable by competition RIA.

Infectious mononucleosis and mononucleosis syndromes

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) mononucleosis are caused by a primary infection with related viruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and CMV. Despite the similarity of clinical manifestations, basic differences exist: (1) The heterophil antibody (HA) response is absent in CMV mononucleosis, whereas it is present in IM. (2) In IM atypical lymphocytosis reflects proliferation of B cells early and of T cells later in the disease course; in CMV mononucleosis the situation appears complex. (3) In blood, EBV is restricted to B lymphocytes, whereas CMV is found in polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes. (4) Complications of CMV mononucleosis such as hepatitis and pneumonitis may be due to virus cytopathic effect in target organs. Prominent tonsillopharyngitis with adenopathy, and visceral complications of IM are related to lymphoproliferation which is self-limited except in males with a rare familial defect in defense against EBV. Immune complex-mediated pathology may occur in both diseases. (5) CMV is frequently transmitted to a fetus in utero or to an infant during or after birth, and this occasionally leads to severe cytomegalic inclusion disease; vertical transmission of EBV appears to be exceptional. (6) Secondary EBV infections are associated with certain malignancies whereas such an association has not been recognized in the case of CMV. Toxoplasma gondii is another cause of HA-negative mononucleosis. Its complications in the heart, in skeletal muscle and in the central nervous system are related to direct invasion by the parasite. Cellular immunity plays an important role in defense against all three agents.

Simultaneous detection of reverse transcriptase and high molecular weight RNA in tissue of patients with Hodgkin's disease and patients with leukemia

Complexes of high-molecular-weight RNA and reverse transcriptase (RNA-dependent DNA nucleotidyltransferase) have been detected in 14(77.8%) of 18 spleen from patients with Hodgkin's disease and in all samples tested of peripheral leukocytes and spleens from leukemic patients. The enzyme and its template are localized in a particle having a density between 1.16 and 1.19 g/ml. These observations describe characteristic features of RNA tumor viruses.

Induction of murine p30 by superinfecting herpesviruses

The interaction of endogenous type C viruses with superinfecting herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) was investigated in two murine cell lines. Replication of HSV-2 was suboptimal in random-bred Swiss/3T3A cells and, in initial experiments, infection with a low virus-to-cell ratio resulted in carrier cultures with enhanced murine leukemia virus (MuLV) p30 expression. Immunofluorescence tests with Swiss/3T3A cells productively infected with HSV-2 also showed HSV-associated cytoplasmic antigens and enhanced MuLV p30 expression when compared with uninfected controls. Inactivation of HSV-2 with UV light did not abolish this reaction, although the number of cells expressing p30 was reduced. HSV-2 replicated more efficiently in a line of NIH Swiss cells (N c1 A c1 10). These cells are not readily inducible for type C expression by conventional methods; however, untreated and UV-inactivated HSV-2 induced both HSV-2-associated antigens and MuLV p30 in these cells. Although the Birch strain of human cytomegalovirus induced MuLV p30, neither mouse cytomegalovirus nor vesicular stomatitis virus induced MuLV p30 in either cell line.

Lack of correlation between Marena tumor induction and expression of endogenous avian RNA tumor virus genome

Infection with Marek's disease virus (MDV) and subsequent tumor development failed to induce the expression of endogenous avian RNA tumor virus genome in Line-15I and Line-7 chickens which lacked such expression at 1 day of age. Titers of avian leukosis virus (ALV) group-specific (gs) antigen detected by the COFAL test and expression of chick helper factor (chf) activity remained relatively constant in birds which expressed these genome functions at hatching time. Endogenous ALV belonging to the E-subgroup was isolated from two of 50 birds; both were controls not exposed to MDV. There was no correlation between expression of ALV genome (gs or chf) at 1 day of age and the rate of tumor development subsequent ot MDV infection. It was concluded that MDV infection can induce tumors without the participation of endogenous ALV genome.

Oncornavirus-like particles in human skin cancers

A high-molecular-weight RNA encapsulated with an RNA-instructed DNA polymerase in particles possessing the density characteristic of the RNA tumor viruses has been detected in 13 out of 14 human malignant melanomas. The [3H]DNA synthesized by these particles in an endogenous reaction hybridizes to RNA extracted from the human melanoma particulate structures, but not to RNA from normal skin. Similar particles containing RNA and enzyme have been found in basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. The RNA of the melanoma particles is easily distinguishable by hybridization from the RNAs found in the particles of the basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

Transformation of cultured human embryonic fibroblasts by oncornavirus-like particles released from a human carcinoma cell line

A fibroblast-like cell culture was established from a stomach biopsy of a patient with metastatic adenocarcinoma. One of the cultures, at the 6th passage level, left unattended for a month at 37 degrees, produced numerous foci of epithelioid cells. Upon subculturing, an epithelioid cell line, designated HCCL (human carcinoma cell line), was established. The HCCL cells released particles possessing the characteristics of oncornaviruses: density 1.175 g/ml, cores with a density of 1.22-1.26 g/ml, high-molecular-weight RNA (60-70S) and RNA-instructed DNA polymerase activity (deoxynucleosidetriphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.7). Inoculation of particles released from HCCL cells into cultures of human embryo muscle fibroblasts resulted in the appearance of foci of transformed cells.

Quantitative nucleotide sequence relationships of mammalian RNA tumor viruses

A molecular hybridization technique has been used to quantitatively measure the nucleotide sequence relationships of selected mammalian RNA tumor viruses. Reciprocal cross-hybridization tests were done in which a given radioactively labeled, viral genomic RNA species was annealed with an excess of unlabeled, complementary DNA product synthesized in endogenously instructed reverse transcriptase reactions. Hybrid formation was measured with pancreatic RNase A. Three representative mammalian RNA tumor virus groups were examined: murine viruses, simian viruses, and feline viruses. The results of reciprocal cross-hybridization testing have revealed that the murine viruses consist of four distinctly related subgroups: (i) the Friend leukemia virus/Rauscher leukemia virus subgroup, (ii) the Gross leukemia virus subgroup, (iii) the Moloney sarcoma virus subgroup, and (iv) the Kirsten sarcoma virus subgroup. Simian sarcoma virus, the only simian virus examined, appeared to share limited interspecies sequence relationships with members of the other virus groups and in particular with Kirsten sarcoma virus. Of the two members of the feline virus group tested, Rickard feline sarcoma virus and RD-114, each was placed in a separate, unrelated subgroup. Rickard feline sarcoma virus exhibited limited sequence relatedness with members of the other virus groups, whereas RD-114 exhibited none.

Antibodies to Epstein-Barr and other viruses in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Sixty-eight children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were tested for antibodies to Epstein-Barr (EB) virus and to other viruses. The antibody response to the test viruses in these children was unremarkable, with the exception of EB virus, where the presence of complement-fixing antibodies in children tested during the first month of their illness suggested that a higher proportion had previous experience with this virus than was the case in control children. The implications of this observation with regard to leukaemogenesis are discussed.

Unique nuclear DNA sequences in the involved tissues of Hodgkin's and Burkitt's lymphomas

Previous studies have demonstrated that Hodgkin's, Burkitt's, and other human lymphomas contain particulate elements encapsulating 70S RNA and RNA-dependent DNA polymerase. [(3)H]DNA probes endogenously synthesized by these particles were used to demonstrate that the nuclear DNA of the lymphomas contain particle-related sequences that cannot be detected (less than 1/20th of a copy per genome) in the DNA of normal cells. This result agrees with our earlier findings in human leukemias. The data are inconsistent with any etiologic concept that invokes germ-line transmission of at least one complete copy of the particulate information associated with the malignancy. The unique sequences found in the nuclear DNA of Burkitt's and Hodgkin's tissues are related to each other but not to the DNA of the Epstein-Barr virus.

Biological and biochemical evidence for an interaction between Marek's disease herpesvirus and avian leukosis virus in vivo

The DNA-containing Epstein-Barr herpesvirus has been implicated in the etiology of Burkitt's lymphoma, a malignant tumor of children in Africa. Recently, however, particles possessing four biochemical characteristics of RNA tumor viruses have also been identified in these tumors. The fact that both types of viruses are found suggests that an interaction between them may be playing a role in the etiology of Burkitt's lymphoma. To explore this possibility with a defined animal model, experiments were performed with the avian Marek's disease, a malignant lymphoproliferative disease associated with a herpesvirus. Controlled contact studies demonstrated that tumorigenesis in a line of isolator-derived, barrier-sustained, specific pathogen-free chickens requires exposure to both the Marek's disease herpesvirus and an avian leukosis virus, Rous-associated virus, type 2. Exposure to either agent alone did not result in tumors. Molecular hybridization experiments to cytoplasmic RNA from similarly contact-exposed conventional Cornell S-line chickens provided further evidence for the occurrence of an interaction between Marek's disease herpesvirus and the avian leukosis virus.

Malignant lymphoma in cottontop marmosets after inoculation with Epstein-Barr virus

Neoplasia resembling human malignant lymphoma, reticulum cell sarcoma type, occurred in cottontop marmosets inoculated with materials containing Epstein-Barr virus. One of four monkeys that received autologous cells transformed in vitro by Epstein-Barr virus developed lymphoma in mesenteric lymph nodes 7.5 months after inoculation. Three of four marmosets inoculated with cell-free Epstein-Barr virus developed lymphoma. The latent period for detectable tumor formation after addition of virus was 31-46 days. Immunosuppressive drugs given with the virus accelerated the course of disease. Nevertheless, malignant lymphoma occurred in an animal given only cell-free virus. Six of eight marmosets inoculated with the virus demonstrated antibodies to the virus. Four marmosets not exposed to the virus, including two that received immunosuppressive drugs, developed neither tumors nor antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus. Virus antigen detectable by immunofluorescence was found in 5% of cells shed from one tumor maintained in organ culture. These results imply that Epstein-Barr virus is capable of inducing malignant lymphoma in at least one primate species. Additional evidence is required before its oncogenic capacity in this host can be accepted without reservation.

Determination of natural host taxonomy of RNA tumor viruses by molecular hybridization: application to RD-114, a candidate human virus

The lysogenic bacteriophages and the RNA tumor viruses have in common the ability to add their genetic information to the genome of their host cells. The biological similarity extends further; data summarized here indicate that they both possess homology to the DNA of their uninfected indigenous hosts. Sharing of common sequences with normal host DNA has been established with avian, murine, feline, and primate oncornaviruses. This finding provides a method for determining the taxonomic position of the natural host of any new RNA tumor virus isolated. Application of this approach to RD-114 revealed extensive hybridization to normal cat DNA and little, if any, hybridization to human DNA. We conclude that the data assign a feline origin rather than a human origin to RD-114.

Burkitt's tumors contain particles encapsulating RNA-instructed DNA polymerase and high molecular weight virus-related RNA

Burkitt's lymphomas, linked by previous studies with the DNA-containing Epstein-Barr virus, contain an RNA related in sequence to that of Rauscher leukemia virus. The present study establishes that the viral-related RNA found in Burkitt's tumors is a 70S component encapsulated with RNA-instructed DNA polymerase in a particle possessing a density characteristic of RNA tumor viruses. Further, the DNA synthesized by the Burkitt particles hybridizes specifically to the RNA of Rauscher leukemia virus. Thus, four features characteristic of a known oncogenic RNA agent are also exhibited by particles found with a high (87%) frequency in Burkitt's tumors. The relation between the RNA particle and the Epstein-Barr virus and their etiological roles remains to be elucidated. However, relevant to these issues is the finding reported here that the presence of Epstein-Barr virus information in nonneoplastic cells does not lead to the production of the RNA particles that have been detected now in three different human neoplasias, including leukemias, breast cancer, and Burkitt's disease.