Contemporary Topics in Immunobiology: Immunobiology of Oncogenic Viruses

It has long been suspected, and recently confirmed, that there is an etiologic relationship between several viruses and naturally occurring neoplasias. Virus precursors in the form of nucleic acids or antigens have consistently been associated with certain neoplasias. However, the role of these virus-specified precursors in etiology remains obscure. Recent studies of virus-associated neo­ plasias have led to advances in molecular techniques, which have yielded increas­ ingly sensitive assays for detection of virus-specific nucleic acids, and which have enabled the disruption of virus particles without concomitant loss in antigenicity of the components. These procedures have, in turn, resulted in molecular probes that allow more definitive evaluation of the host response to its virus and to the tumor cell with which the virus or its precursors are associated. Evaluations of the immune response and status of the host have provided important informa­ tion about carcinogenesis and the tools for seroepidemiological studies of a variety of cancers. These seroepidemiological studies have demonstrated that several human cancers, e. g. , Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, are probably virus-induced, and that antibodies that are diagnostic and prog­ nostic for these diseases are detectable. The conclusion that feline leukemia is a disease transmitted horizontally by a virus resulted primarily from immunologi­ cal experiments.

Table of Contents:
1 Comparative Immunology of Carcinogenesis by DNA Viruses.- I. Introduction.- II. Properties of Oncogenic DNA Viruses.- III. Oncogenic Potential of DNA Viruses in Vivo.- IV. Oncogenic Potential of Defective Genomes.- V. Neoplastic Transformation in Vitro by DNA Viruses.- VI. Role of Virus Genome in Cell Transformation.- VII. Antigens Associated with DNA-Virus-Transformed Cells.- VIII. Genetic Origin of DNA-Virus-Specified Antigens.- IX. Immune Response of the Host to DNA-Tumor-Virus-Induced Antigens.- X. Role of DNA-Virus-Induced Antigens in Neoplasia.- XI. Conclusions.- XII. References.- 2 Immunity to Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Fibrosarcoma in Cats: A Case for Immunosurveillance.- I. Introduction.- II. Immunosurveillance Hypothesis.- III. Feline Oncornaviruses.- IV. Feline Oncornavirus-Associated Cell Membrane Antigen.- V. Laboratory-Induced and Naturally Occurring Tumors of Cats.- VI. Immune Response to Laboratory-Induced Tumors.- VII. Immune Response to Naturally Occurring Leukemia and Lymphoma.- VIII. Summary and Conclusions.- IX. References.- 3 Intracellular and Systemic Regulation of Biologically Distinguishable Endogenous Type C RNA Viruses of Mouse Cells.- I. Introduction.- II. Evidence for Three Classes of Biologically Distinguishable Endogenous Mouse Type C Viruses.- III. Differential Activation of Endogenous Viruses.- IV. A Gene Affecting Expression of Class I Virus.- V. A Gene Influencing the Magnitude of Release of Class III Endogenous Virus.- VI. Susceptibility to Exogenous Infection of Mouse Cells by Xenotropic Virus.- VII. High-Titered Neutralizing Activity Directed Against Xenotropic Virus in Normal Mouse Sera.- VIII. Activation of Type C Viruses from Lymphoid Cells Following Antigenic Stimulation.- IX. Biological Functions of Endogenous Type C Viruses.- X. References.- 4 Mammalian C-Type Oncornaviruses: Relationships between Viral Structural and Cell-Surface Antigens and Their Possible Significance in Immunological Defense Mechanisms.- I. Introduction.- II. Morphology of Mammalian C-Type Viruses.- III. Isolation and Physicochemical Characterization of Structural Polypeptides of Murine and Feline Viruses.- IV. Antigenic and Other Biological Properties of the Structural Polypeptides.- V. Localization of the Virion Proteins and Glycoproteins in the Particle Structure.- VI. Viral Structural Antigens on the Cell Surface.- VII. Autogenous Immunity in Mice to Viral Structural Antigens.- VIII. Immunogenic Potency of Isolated Viral Proteins and Glycoproteins.- IX. Seroimmunotherapy of C-Type Virus Infections.- X. Concluding Remarks.- XI. References.- 5 Natural Immunity to Endogenous Oncornaviruses in Mice.- I. Introduction.- II. Widespread Occurrence of Natural Antibodies to MuLV.- III. Characterization of the Immune Response.- IV. Virus Specificity.- V. Autogenous Humoral Response to Virus-Induced Cell-Surface Antigens.- VI. Discussion.- VII. References.- 6 Biological and Structural Pleomorphism of the Oncornavirus Envelope Glycoprotein, gp70.- I. Introduction.- II. MuLV gp70 Is a Surface Component of Virus Particles.- III. MuLV gp70 Is a Surface Component of Infected Cells.- IV. MuLV gp70 Is a Component of the Surface of MuLV-Induced Lymphomas.- V. MuLV gp70 May Be Expressed in Normal Cells.- VI. Host Functions and Viral Genes.- VII. References.- 7 Autoimmunity, Oncornaviruses, and Lymphomagenesis.- I. Introduction.- II. Immunological Activation of C-Type Viruses.- III. Virus-Induced Autoimmunity and Lymphomagenesis.- IV. Discussion.- V. Summary.- VI. References.- 8 Natural Immunity to Murine Mammary Tumor Viruses.- I. Historical Review.- II. Immunofluorescence Studies on the Presence of Antibodies to MTV in Mouse Sera.- III. References.- 9 Immunogenicity and MuMTV-like Antigenicity of Human Breast Cancer Tissues.- I. Introduction.- II. Immunogenicity of Human Breast Cancer.- III. Immunological Measurements.- IV. Physicochemical Measurements.- V. Comments.- VI. References.- 10 Clinical Implications of Immunity to Oncogenic Viruses.- I. Introduction.- II. Etiology.- III. Prevention.- IV. Immunodiagnosis.- V. Therapy.- VI. Summary and Conclusions.- VII. References.