| First Author | Held W | Year | 1992 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 175 |
| Issue | 6 | Pages | 1623-33 |
| PubMed ID | 1316932 | Mgi Jnum | J:1261 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:49791 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.175.6.1623 |
| Citation | Held W, et al. (1992) An exogenous mouse mammary tumor virus with properties of Mls-1a (Mtv-7). J Exp Med 175(6):1623-33 |
| abstractText | The classical minor lymphocyte stimulating (Mls) antigens, which induce a strong primary T cell response in vitro, are closely linked to endogenous copies of mouse mammary tumor viruses (MMTV). Expression of Mls genes leads to clonal deletion of T cell subsets expressing specific T cell receptor (TCR) V beta chains. We describe the isolation and characterization of a new exogenous (infectious) MMTV with biological properties similar to the Mls antigen Mls-1a. In vivo administration of either Mls-1a-expressing B cells or the infectious MMTV (SW) led to an increase of T cells expressing V beta 6 followed by their deletion. Surprisingly, different kinetics of deletion were observed with the exogenous virus depending upon the route of infection. Infection through the mucosa led to a slow deletion of V beta 6+ T cells, whereas deletion was rapid after subcutaneous infection. Sequence analysis of the open reading frames in the 3' long terminal repeat of both this exogenous MMTV (SW) and of Mtv-7 (which is closely linked to Mls-1a) revealed striking similarities, particularly in the COOH terminus, which has been implicated in TCR V beta recognition. The identification of an infectious MMTV with the properties of a strong Mls antigen provides a new, powerful tool to study immunity and tolerance in vivo. |
