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A new infectious mammary tumor virus in the milk of mice implanted with C4 hyperplastic alveolar nodules

1993; Wiley; Volume: 23; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/eji.1830231107

1521-4141

Alexander N. Shakhov, Hong Wang, Hans Acha‐Orbea, Robert J. Pauley, Wei‐Zen Wei,

T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Abstract We have previously characterized an infectious mouse mammary tumor virus [(MMTV(SW)] which induces a strong superantigen response in vivo . Here we describe the isolation and characterization of MMTV(C4) which was derived from milk of mice implanted with hyperplastic alveolar nodules. MMTV(C4) stimulates Vβ2 expressing T cells after local injection in vivo . Comparison with known open reading frame (orf) sequences revealed high homology to Mtv‐6, an endogenous virus interacting with Vβ3‐expressing T cells. The carboxyl‐terminal amino acids were, however, altered. High homology including the carboxyl‐terminal orf amino acids were found with MMTV(C3H‐K). We show here that MMTV(C3H‐K) has lost its superantigen function. Sequence comparisons permitted the characterization of few key amino acids which could be important for T cell receptor interaction and superantigen processing.