| Abstract: | The immunobiology of Friend erythroleukemia virus (FLV) has been the focal point of much research into immunological control of leukemia. We have been studying a murine model in which a rapidly fatal FLV infection of DBA/2 mice is suppressed to a dormant state by treatment with statolon, a double stranded RNA extract of Mycoplasma stoloniferum. We report here that mice with FLV-dormant infections resist the accumulation of transplanted FLV-transformed erythroleukemia cells (FLC-745) and that FLC-745 cells persist in the spleen for a prolonged period. Winn assays revealed that the spleen of FLV-dormant mice contain radiosensitive T-lymphocytes with anti-FLC-745 cell activity. Whole body irradiation of FLV-dormant mice abrogated their resistance to transplanted FLC-745 cells and confirmed the radiosensitivity of the protective immune response. |
