Recent observations in this laboratory have indicated that endogenous retroviral envelope antigen is expressed in plasma cells of chickens possessing line 15I(5) genetic information.
Our aim i n this grant is to further characterize this phenemenon. In particular, we propose to i) characterize biochemically the viral-related, plasma cell-associated antigen and ii) to investigate possible immunological ramifications of viral envelope antigen expression in B cells. In terms of the latter proposal, the hypothesis that viral envelope antigen expression in plasma cells may have relevance for humoral immune responsiveness derives from observation that 15I(5) x 7(2) chickens infected with exogenous avian tumor virus produce type E-specific antibody (E-reactive antibody) that recognizes endogenous viral glycoprotein. The possibility is therefore suggested that this antibody interacts with the viral envelope antigen expressed on the surface of plasma or preplasma cells, an interaction which results in cell death or inactivation. Experiments are proposed to i) compare parameters of humoral immune responsiveness in viral envelope antigen positive and negative chickens and ii) assay directly for immunosuppression mediated by E-reactive antibody.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA031514-04
Application #
3169628
Study Section
Experimental Virology Study Section (EVR)
Project Start
1982-04-01
Project End
1986-03-31
Budget Start
1985-04-01
Budget End
1986-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Wistar Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
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Wisner, T W; England, J M; Pan, D Y et al. (1991) Tumor immunity generated in the course of regression of v-src-induced sarcomas. J Virol 65:7020-4
England, J M; Panella, M J; Ewert, D L et al. (1991) Induction of a diffuse mesothelioma in chickens by intraperitoneal inoculation of v-src DNA. Virology 182:423-9
Halpern, M S; McMahon, S B; Branco, F (1989) Restricted clonality of visceral sarcomas in avian sarcoma virus-infected chickens. Virology 169:110-4
Halpern, M S; Falkowitz, K; Branco, F et al. (1988) The capacity of avian retrovirus-induced sarcomas to expand by infectious virus production. Virology 166:248-50
Halpern, M S; McMahon, S B (1987) The immune status of avian sarcoma virus-infected chickens as a determinant of sarcoma growth pattern and viral antigen expression. J Immunol 138:3014-8
McMahon, S B; Ewert, D; Carroll, R et al. (1986) Expression of endogenous retroviral envelope glycoprotein as a determinant of immunity to Rous sarcoma. Virology 155:737-41
Halpern, M S; Egan, J; McMahon, S B et al. (1985) Duck hepatitis B virus is tropic for exocrine cells of the pancreas. Virology 146:157-61
Halpern, M S; McMahon, S; Egan, J et al. (1985) Ablation of humoral immunity in 15I5 x 72 chickens is not predisposing to the formation of subgroup G virus-induced distal sarcomas. Virology 146:153-6