Structure of endogenous retroviruses expressed in radiation-induced and spontaneous murine bone tumours.

The molecular structure of murine retroviruses expressed in spontaneous and radiation-induced bone tumours was studied. These viruses induce osteomas, lymphomas and osteopetrosis in mice of the NMRI strain. RNase T1 fingerprint analysis indicates the presence of mixed virus populations in the tumours, with major components showing close relationship to Akv MuLV. Cloned viruses, closely related to Akv MuLV, have the same oncogenic properties as the original mixtures. In its nucleotide sequence of the repeat segments of the transcriptional enhancer in the LTR, one cloned virus analysed was distinct from Akv MuLV, but closely related to a spontaneous bone tumour virus isolate, FBJ MuLV.

Endogenous murine leukemia viruses: frequency of radiation-activation and novel pathogenic effects of viral isolates.

Female C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were injected i.p. with 0.06 microCi/kg or 0.5 microCi/kg of the short-lived alpha-emitting radionuclide 224radium at 3-day intervals. Infectious N-ecotropic XC+, and xenotropic C-type retroviruses were activated in several tissues in both strains. In C57BL/6 mice the activation of ecotropic and xenotropic virus was dose-dependent as observed 4 weeks after the start of irradiation. In BALB/c mice a few animals showed activation of ecotropic virus after four weeks of irradiation. The expression of xenotropic virus was similar in irradiated mice and controls. Viral antigen, indicative for viraemia, was not detected in irradiated or control animals. Antiviral antibodies were found in both control and irradiated mice but higher titers were found in the irradiated mice. Bone tissue-derived N-tropic XC+ virus isolates were found to be non-oncogenic in newborn mice of the parental strain. In contrast, the same virus isolates induced a novel pattern of disease, such as osteopetrosis and osteomas together with malignant lymphomas in NMRI mice. The data indicate that the pattern of endogenous murine leukemia virus activation by internal alpha-irradiation is dependent on the dose rate, and on the genetics of the mouse strain.

Molecular cloning of osteoma-inducing replication-competent murine leukemia viruses from the RFB osteoma virus stock.

We report the molecular cloning of two replication-competent osteoma-inducing murine leukemia viruses from the RFB osteoma virus stock (M. P. Finkel, C. A. Reilly, Jr., B. O. Biskis, and I. L. Greco, p. 353-366, in C. H. G. Price and F. G. M. Ross, ed., Bone--Certain Aspects of Neoplasia, 1973). Like the original RFB osteoma virus stock, viruses derived from the molecular RFB clones induced multiple osteomas in mice of the CBA/Ca strain. The cloned RFB viruses were indistinguishable by restriction enzyme analysis and by nucleotide sequence analysis of their long-terminal-repeat regions and showed close relatedness to the Akv murine leukemia virus.

Oncogenic retrovirus from spontaneous murine osteomas. II. Molecular cloning and genomic characterization.

An N-ecotropic murine leukemia virus (OA MuLV), originally isolated from spontaneous osteomas of strain 101 mice, was molecularly cloned. The virus induces osteomas, osteopetrosis, and malignant lymphomas in NMRI mice. The cloned virus was analyzed by heteroduplex analysis, restriction enzyme mapping, and oligonucleotide mapping. The data show a very close relationship to the endogenous Akv prototype virus with some differences in the gag and the env region. The nucleotide sequence of the U3 region of OA MuLV LTR revealed a structure within the presumable enhancer region very similar to the U3 sequences of the FBJ murine sarcoma virus and its associated helper virus. The significance of these specific structures for the oncogenicity of the virus and the development of the typical disease pattern is discussed.

Oncogenic retrovirus from spontaneous murine osteomas. I. Isolation and biological characterization.

Spontaneous osteomas in strain 101 mice, a strain which has a high incidence of benign bone tumours, harbour numerous C-type virus-like particles with pleomorphic characteristics. A cell-free extract from osteomas from two mice induced bone tumours, together with osteopetrosis and lymphomas, in newborn mice of the low incidence NMRI strain after a latent period of 12 to 15 months. When C3H embryo fibroblasts were infected with the osteoma extract, the resulting cell line produced virus (OA MuLVC) with a high titre. OA MuLVC was cloned by serial endpoint dilution and NIH 3T3 cells were productively infected. The resulting virus was named OA MuLVN. OA MuLVC and OA MuLVN also induced bone tumours, osteopetrosis and lymphomas 12 to 15 months after injection into newborn NMRI mice. The isolated virus showed typical characteristics of the murine retrovirus group. Fv-1 host range restriction assays classified the viruses as N-ecotropic and XC-positive. Tryptic p30 peptide analysis and RNase T1 fingerprint analysis of OA MuLVC and OA MuLVN indicated that OA MuLVC contains an Akv-like virus as well as additional components, whereas OA MuLVN is closely related to Akv, but not identical to it. Serological analysis of the envelope proteins using monoclonal antibodies also showed the virus to be similar, but not identical, to Akv virus.

Confounded carcinogenicity study of sodium fluoride in CD-1 mice.

To determine its carcinogenic potential, sodium fluoride (NaF) was fed to CD-1 mice for up to 97 weeks. Mice given NaF at a dose of 4, 10, or 25 mg/kg of body weight per day added to a low-fluoride diet were compared to controls given either an unsupplemented low-fluoride diet or laboratory chow. Nonneoplastic changes consistent with those previously recognized from fluoride toxicity were observed in teeth, bones, and joints. Unexpectedly, osteomas occurred in all groups. The incidence of osteomas was similar in groups given the low-fluoride control diet, laboratory chow, or NaF doses of 4 or 10 mg/kg per day. The incidence of osteomas in these groups was increased over that historically experienced at the laboratory and reported in the literature for CD-1 mice. The incidence of osteomas in the mice given 25 mg NaF/kg per day added to a low-fluoride diet was increased over that in the other groups. Osteomas were first observed at Week 55. No malignant bone tumors were observed during the course of the study. The locations, multiplicity, and morphologic features of the osteomas in all groups were similar to those associated with virus-induced bone tumors. Electron microscopic examination revealed abundant retrovirus particles in all osteomas examined from control and test mice. It was concluded that the study was confounded by a retrovirus which contributed to the induction of the osteomas. Because the study was confounded, it cannot be considered a valid bioassay to be used for risk assessment.