Leukemia Virus-Induced Alteration of Lymphocyte Ig Surface Receptors and the “Capping” Response of Mouse Spleen and Lymph Node Cells

Summary

The presence of B lymphocytes in mouse spleens and lymph nodes and the ability of such cells to redistribute their surface immunoglobulin (Ig) receptors into “caps” after infection with Friend leukemia virus (FLY) were investigated. As FLY infection proceeded, the B-Iymphocyte population decreased in the spleen and increased in the lymph nodes. However, the ability of B lymphocytes to cap in either lymphoid tissue was markedly inhibited. Both the dose of FLY and the virus preparation used for infection influenced the number of Ig-Iymphocytes in the spleen and lymph nodes and the capping response of these cells. Furthermore, the inability of spleen cells to cap occurred when FLY-infected mice were immunosuppressed.