Leukaemia Virus-induced Alteration of Leucocyte Migration in vitro

Abstract

INFECTION of susceptible mice by a leukaemia virus generally suppresses the immune response at both the cellular and humoral levels^1–8. Although the mechanism of such immuno-depression is not fully understood, it is widely recognized that normal functions of the reticulo-endothelial system are affected by the leukaemic process. Earlier studies in this laboratory of the effects of leukaemia virus on cellular immunity included the macrophage migration inhibition assay with lymphoid cells from normal and virus infected mice sensitized to mycobacterial antigens⁹. It was found, however, that spleen cells from leukaemia virus-infected mice failed to migrate normally in vitro, even in the absence of antigen. Studies with normal mice showed that cells from lymphoid tissues other than the spleen, such as the thymus, bone marrow and superficial lymph nodes, as well as from the peripheral blood, migrated readily from capillary tube cultures¹⁰. The effects of leukaemia virus infection on the in vitro migration pattern of lymphoid cells from various organs were determined by comparison of infected and non-infected cells.