Mechanisms of genetic resistance to Friend virus leukemia in mice. IV. Identification of a gene (Fv-3) regulating immunosuppression in vitro, and its distinction from Fv-2 and genes regulating marrow allograft reactivity

Reduced vacuolar ATPase protects mice from Friend virus infection - an unintended but instructive effect in Hif-2afl mice

During acute viral infections, innate immune cells invade inflamed tissues and face hypoxic areas. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) adapt cellular responses towards these conditions. We wanted to investigate the effects of a loss of HIF-2α in macrophages during acute Friend murine leukemia retrovirus (FV) infection in C57BL/6 mice using a Cre/loxP system. Remarkably, mice with floxed Hif-2a (Hif-2afl; Hif-2a is also known as Epas1) did not show any signs of FV infection independent of Cre activity. This prevented a detailed analysis of the role of macrophage HIF-2α for FV infection but allowed us to study a model of unexpected FV resistance. Hif-2afl mice showed a significant decrease in the expression of the Atp6v1e2 gene encoding for the E2 subunit of the vacuolar H+-ATPase, which resulted in a decreased acidification of lysosomes and limited virus entry into the cell. These findings highlight that the insertion of loxP sites is not always without functional consequences and has established a phenotype in the floxed Hif-2a mouse, which is not only unexpected, but unwanted and is of relevance for the use of this mouse strain in (at least virus) experiments.

The Accidental Pathologist: A Curiosity-Driven Journey from Plant Evolution to Innate Immunity

I have had the singular opportunity to perform research and to participate in medical education. Not unexpectedly, people have asked me which of the two was more important to me. My answer has always been and remains that I am equally passionate about research and teaching. My research has been curiosity driven and not purposeful; hence, I was willing to take risks. That my research led to the discovery of natural killer cells and the unraveling of the molecular basis of a human disease was an unexpected reward. By contrast, my interest in medical education was purposeful, with the goal of improving healthcare by teaching pathology as the scientific foundation of medicine. It started with participation in Robbins pathology texts but progressed toward development of technology-based tools for medical education. This was driven by the belief that technology, by providing equal access to knowledge across the world, can be a powerful democratizing force.

Influence of the murine MHC (H-2) on Friend leukemia virus-induced immunosuppression

Friend murine leukemia virus complex (FV)-induced immunosuppression was studied by assaying splenic anti-SRBC PFC responses and plasma antibody titers in mice at various times after FV inoculation. Genes located within the H-2 complex were found to influence resistance to FV-induced immunosuppression. Near normal responses were observed in mice having the H-2a/b or H-2b/b genotype, whereas mice having the H-2a/a genotype were suppressed. This H-2 effect was observed not only in mice having heterozygous C57BL/10 X A background genes, including Rfv-3r/s, but also was apparent in mice having homozygous A-strain background genes, including Rfv-3s/s. Therefore, the Rfv-3 gene did not appear to convey resistance to FV-induced immunosuppression. The suppression in susceptible H-2a/a mice was characterized by a partial suppression of the IgM response and a profound suppression of both the primary and secondary IgG responses. Neither splenomegaly nor viremia alone appeared to be sufficient for the induction or maintenance of the immunosuppression. The mechanism of suppression was unclear, but both B lymphocyte and T lymphocyte functions appeared to be altered.

A new gene that controls the type of leukemia induced by Friend murine leukemia virus

NB tropic Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) replicates equally well in BALB/c and C57BL mice inoculated as neonates but causes almost exclusively erythroblastosis in BALB/c mice and nonerythroid (lymphoid and myelogenous) leukemias in C57BL mice. The C57BL resistance to erythroblastosis appears to be controlled by a single dominant gene in first and second backcrosses to BALB/c. This resistance to erythroblastosis is distinct from other genes known to affect susceptibility to Friend virus including Fv-1, Fv-2, H-2, Rfv-3, Fv-4, and Rmcf. We suggest the name Fhe for the new gene controlling susceptibility to Friend helper virus erythroblastosis.

Expression of resistance to Friend virus-stimulated erythropoiesis in bone marrow chimeras containing Fv-2rr and Fv-2ss bone marrow

Bone marrow chimeras were formed containing mixtures of DBA/2 (Fv-2ss, Hbbdd) and B10.D2 (Fv-2rr, Hbbss) bone marrow. When these mice were infected with the polycythemia-inducing strain of Friend virus, erythropoiesis was stimulated, but the proportion of B10.D2 hemoglobin fell rapidly and newly synthesized hemoglobin was essentially all of the DBA/2 type. The treatment of infected polycythemic chimeras with phenylhydrazine lowered the hematocrit and restored the synthesis of B10.D2 hemoglobin. These results imply that B10.D2 erythroid precursors are intrinsically resistant to Friend virus-stimulated erythropoiesis. The experiments also suggest that virus-stimulated erythropoiesis is not mediated by a factor or cell-cell interactions, unless such factors or interactions do not act across strain barriers.

Studies on the resistance of the C57B1/6 mouse strain to the polycythemia-inducing strain of the Friend virus (FV-P)

In previous studies it had been found that C57B1/6 marrow cells, normally resistant to infection by the Friend virus (FV-P), became susceptible after their transplantation into lethally irradiated leukemic DBA/2 mice. This loss of FV-P resistance was further analyzed and spleen weight and the number of erythropoietin-(Ep)-independent CFU-E in bone marrow and spleen were measured as the result of successful FV-P infection. C57B1/6 marrow was infected shortly before and in intervals after either isogeneic transplantation or transplantation into lethally irradiated DBA/2 hosts. After isogeneic transplantation there was some susceptibility for FV-P and this seemed to correlate with the regenerative activity of BFU-E at the time of infection. However, there was no difference in the BFU-E kinetics between normal DBA/2 and C57B1/6 mice. C57B1/6 were further pretreated by bleeding, irradiation with 150 R, injection of hydroxyurea and of endotoxin. After hydroxyurea treatment there was an increased proportion of BFU-E in S-phase, but only endotoxin, which did not alter the BFU-E kinetics after 48 h, made C47B1/6 mice susceptible to FV-P infection. These results suggest that the proliferative activity of BFU-E might be important for successful FV-P infection and induction of Ep-independent erythropoiesis but also other conditions regulate the resistance or susceptibility of a mouse strain.

Akvr-1, a dominant murine leukemia virus restriction gene, is polymorphic in leukemia-prone wild mice

We describe a restriction gene (Akvr-1, for AKR virus restriction) that is polymorphic for two alleles, Akvr-1R (restrictive) and Akvr-1r (susceptible), in a feral population of mice (Mus) musculus domesticus) at a squab farm near Lake Casitas (LC) in southern California. Akvr-1k is a dominant allele that exhibits 100% penetrance in prevention of viremia of AKR endogenous retrovirus and of virus-mediated lymphoma in LC (Akvr-1RR) X AKR F1 hybrids. The restriction phenotype segregates as a single Mendelian locus in backcrosses to AKR mice. Akvr-1R likewise is effective in restriction of NB-tropic Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced viremia and NB-tropic Friend virus-induced splenomegaly but fails to restrict expression or pathogenesis of LC-derived amphotropic retrovirus. Pleiotropic restriction of AKR, Friend, and Moloney ecotropic viruses, but not of amphotropic virus, suggests that the viral targets of Akvr-1 in the three ecotropic viruses are similar to each other and distinct from the target in the LC-amphotropic virus. The relationship of Akvr-1 to previously reported murine restriction loci Fv-1, Fv-2, and Fv-4 is discussed.

Self-renewal of factor-dependent hemopoietic progenitor cell-lines derived from long-term bone marrow cultures demonstrates significant mouse strain genotypic variation

Long-term bone marrow cultures established from C57Ks/J mice have been shown to spontaneously release endogenous ecotropic RNA type-C virus (retrovirus). C57Ks/J marrow cultures produced granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (GM-CFUc) and immature and mature granulocytes for over 45 weeks. In contrast, NIH Swiss mouse marrow cultures failed to release detectable ecotropic virus and generated GM-CFUc and granulocytes for 25-35 weeks and established WEHI-3 conditioned medium (CM) dependent cell lines in vitro and did not establish permanent cell lines. To determine whether viral and/or cellular genes regulated the longevity of C57Ks/J marrow cultures, groups of cultures were established from the marrow of (NIH-Swiss X C47Ks/J) F1 hybrid, F2 hybrid, and (NIH Swiss X C47Ks/J) X NIH Swiss backcross generations. Release of endogenous ecotropic virus was measured weekly in each culture as was the duration of production of immature granulocytic cells and GM-CFUc over a 58-week period. The results demonstrated a complex pattern of inheritance of longevity of long-term in vitro hemopoiesis. Increased longevity did not absolutely correlate with detectable replication of the C57Ks/J N-tropic virus.

Hybrid resistance to EL-4 lymphoma cells. I. Characterization of natural killer cells that lyse EL-4 cells and their distinction from marrow-dependent natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells from nonimmunized mice capable of lysing EL-4 (C57BL/6 strain H-2b) tissue culture-adapted lymphoma cells have been analyzed and compared with NK cells which lyse YAC-1 (A-strain, H-2a) lymphoma cells. A correlation was seen in the ability of inbred and B6D2F1 mice to reject C57BL/6 (B6) bone-marrow grafts and the ability of their spleen cells to lyse EL-4 cells in vitro. This suggests that hybrid or hemopoietic histocompatibility antigens, (Hh-1b), relevant in the rejection of B6 stem cells may also be the relevant target structures for the anti-EL-4 NK cells. Certain features of these NK cells are similar to the NK cells reactive against YAC-1 cells. Both types of NK cells are present in athymic nude mice, are not affected by treatment with anti-immunoglobulin plus complement, and are not depleted by techniques that remove macrophages. NK activity against both targets is stimulated 3 d after injection of Corynebacterium parvum, and 24 h after challenge with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid. Hydrocortisone acetate and cyclophosphamide lead to reduction of NK activity within 2-3 d after administration. However, the anti-YAC and anti-EL-4 NK reactivities differed in several important respects. Treatment of mice with 89Sr, the bone-seeking isotope, to deplete marrow-dependent cells, depleted the anti-YAC-1 but not anti-EL-4 cell functions. Anti-EL-4 NK cells were unaffected by silica particles in vivo or in vitro; the NK cells reactive to EL-4 cells matured functionally much earlier in life (5 d of age) and the function did not decline with age. Irradiated mice reconstituted with syngeneic marrow or spleen cells developed functional NK cells against EL-4 targets before they developed anti-YAC-1 NK cells in their spleen. Thus anti-EL-4 NK cells that express hybrid resistance in vitro appear to differ from anti-YAC-1 NK cells and do not require an intact marrow microenvironment for functional differentiation. Despite differences in the NK-cell types involved in the lysis of YAC-1 and EL-4 cells, these two tumor cells share certain common determinants. This was ascertained both by cold competition and by utilization of YAC-1 and EL-4 cell monolayers as immunoadsorbents. We conclude that Hh-1b is the common antigen present in EL-4 and YAC-1 cells, because B6D2F1 anti-B6 (anti-Hh-1b) cytotoxic T lymphocytes lysed both the tumor cells. Our data suggest that Hh-1b antigen is recognized by both types of NK cells, but that additional determinants must be present on YAC-1 cells. Two models of NK cell lysis compatible with the data are presented.

Anti-Friend virus antibody is associated with recovery from viremia and loss of viral leukemia cell-surface antigens in leukemic mice. Identification of Rfv-3 as a gene locus influencing antibody production

A single genetic locus, Rfv-3, influenced Friend virus (FV) viremia, loss of FV-induced cell-surface antigens from leukemia cells, and generation of anti-FV antibodies. 30--90 d after FV infection leukemic spleen cells from (B10.A X A)F1 and (B10.A X A.BY)F1 mice (Rfv-3r/s) were found to have low FV-induced cell-surface antigen expression compared to leukemic spleen cells from A and A.BY mice (Rfv-3s/s). In addition, these F1 mice recovered from viremia and generated cytotoxic anti-FV antibodies. A and A.BY mice did not recover from viremia and failed to generate anti-FV antibodies. Anti-FV leukemia cell antibody appeared to mediate FV-antigen loss because decrease of FV cell-surface antigens occurred at the same time as anti-FV antibody appeared in the plasma of F1 mice, and passive transfer of anti-FV antisera induced modulation of FV cell-surface antigens. Rfv-3 did not influence an intrinsic ability of FV antigens to be modulated from Rfv-3s/s leukemia cells because FV antigen loss from Rfv-3s/s spleen cells occurred after transfer of cells to an immune environment.

Immunosuppression by Friend leukemia virus is H-2 restricted by alloreactive T lymphocytes

Friend leukemia virus suppresses mitogen-responsive cells in vitro by activating thymus-dependent suppressor cells. The interaction between T suppressor and mitogen-responsive cells is H-2D restricted by a third cell type, called an interfering cell. The interfering cells could be characterized as alloreactive T cells that functionally mature in the spleen at 2 weeks of age and that can be functionally inhibited by mitomycin C, irradiation, and cortisol. Interfering cells are stimulated by H-2D (and not H-2L) alloantigens of the mitogen-responsive cells. H-2D differences between interfering and T suppressor cells are unimportant. Induction of "tolerance" to H-2 alloantigens in semi-allogeneic radiation marrow chimeras resulted in the specific loss of interfering cell function. It is possible that interfering or similar cells participate in other forms of H-2 restriction.

Identification of a non-H-2 gene (Rfv-3) influencing recovery from viremia and leukemia induced by Friend virus complex

The dominant C57BL/10 allele of a single autosomal, non-H-2 gene (Rfv-3) was found to be required for recovery from viremia and leukemia induced by Friend virus complex in H-2b/b mice. In H-2a/a mice, the Rfv-3 gene apparently influenced recovery from viremia in the presence of persistent leukemia because these mice lacked the appropriate H-2 genotype for recovery from leukemia. The Rfv-3 gene was distinct from the Fv-2 gene because recovery from viremia was seen in recombinant-inbred mice with the Fv-2s/s genotype. Furthermore, backcross studies indicated that Rfv-3 and Fv-2 were not linked. The Rfv-3 gene may act by influencing the specific anti-FV humoral antibody response.