James M. England

Induction of a diffuse mesothelioma in chickens by intraperitoneal inoculation of v-src DNA.

The presence of peritoneum-based, cytokeratin-positive tumor cells, as detected under conditions of intravenous inoculation of chickens with a v-src-positive DNA fragment, raised the possibility that such DNA may be inductive for diffuse mesothelioma. To investigate this possibility, chickens were inoculated intraperitoneally with v-src DNA, and the resultant peritoneum-based tumor tissue was subjected to histopathological analysis. On the basis of (i) morphology, (ii) immunohistochemistry/histochemistry, and (iii) ultrastructure, we concluded that this tissue represents a diffuse mesothelioma.

The induction of antibody reactivity to endogenous viral glycoprotein in 15l5 × 72 [chf(+), V(+)] chickens☆

Abstract Experiments were undertaken to assay for the induction of antibody reactivity to endogenous viral glycoprotein of subgroup E in 15I5 × 72 chickens infected with Pr-A sarcoma virus. Antibody in the sera of the sarcomatous chickens was marginally reactive to the envelope glycoprotein of exogenous viruses of subgroups other than A, but more strongly reactive to the envelope glycoprotein of both the subgroup A infecting virus and the endogenous tumor virus RAV-0. This pattern of reactivity was distinct from the patterns determined in earlier studies with Pr-A-infected chickens which differed from 15I5 × 72 in expression of endogenous viral envelope-related glycoprotein.

Reactivity of antisera to endogenous tumor virus for splenic B lymphocytes of immunized 15I5 × 72 and 15I5 × 71 chickens

Abstract Immunofluorescence was employed to assay the spleens from several strains of chicken for the presence of antigen reactive with rabbit antisera elicited to the endogenous oncornavirus RAV-O. Antigen was detected in numerous islands or clusters of B lymphocytes that were localized to splenic red pulp of 15I 5 × 7 2 and 15I 5 × 7 1 chickens that had been sensitized to sheep red blood cells. Competition experiments provided evidence for cross-reactivity with structural antigen of RAV-0. Islands of antigen-positive cells were not detected in the spleens of nonsensitized 15I 5 × 7 2 or 15I 5 × 7 1 chickens although several of these spleens exhibited small numbers of scattered antigen-positive B cells. Spleens of sensitized or nonsensitized Spafas MR53 chickens did not react to detectable levels with the anti-RAV-O sera.