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Retroviral transduction of T-cell antigen receptor β-chain and myc genes

Abstract

Support for multistage models of oncogenesis has been provided by several highly leukaemogenic retrovirus isolates that have transduced more than one host cell gene1–5. Where functional studies have been performed, these retroviral oncogenes show synergy for in vitro transformation and leukaemogenesis6,7. In naturally occurring feline leukaemias associated with feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), retroviral transduction of myc is a frequent oncogenic mechanism8–10. But evidence suggesting that the FeLV v-myc genes might be insufficient for leukaemogenesis was provided by the latency (12 weeks) and clonality of FeLV/v-myc-induced tumours and the absence of demonstrable in vitro transformation by these viruses11. In the search for secondary leukaemogenic events in FeLV/v-myc tumours, we have identified a case of FeLV transduction of a T-cell antigen receptor β-chain gene. The proviruses carrying this gene (which we have named v-tcr) were a separate population from those carrying v-myc. In its normal role, the T-cell receptor β-chain forms part of a multimeric complex involved in antigen recognition12–14 and T-cell activation15,16. We suggest that v-tcr is a novel viral oncogene which assisted v-myc in the genesis of a naturally occurring case of thymic lymphosarcoma.

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Fulton, R., Forrest, D., McFarlane, R. et al. Retroviral transduction of T-cell antigen receptor β-chain and myc genes. Nature 326, 190–194 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/326190a0

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