Suppression of murine leukemia virus-mediated 3Y1 cell fusion by expression of mouse MHC class I.

Rat 3Y1 fibroblasts transformed by adenovirus type 12 or its E1A gene formed syncytia by cocultivation with Friend murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-producing cells. On the other hand, parental 3Y1 cells and those derivatives induced by other tumor viruses or chemical carcinogen showed no MuLV-mediated syncytium formation [N. Momozaki et al. (1990) Arch. Virol. 115: 123-126]. The expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I mRNA and antigens was significantly reduced in these Ad12- and E1A-transformed 3Y1 cells. In contrast, other tumor virus-and chemical carcinogen-transformed 3Y1 cells expressed MHC class I almost in normal levels as did parental 3Y1 cells. Furthermore, Ad12-transformed 3Y1 cells which started to express the transfected exogenous MHC class I gene, H-2Ld, showed no more MuLV-mediated 3Y1 cell fusion. These results indicate that the expression of MHC class I on the cell membrane is closely related to the inhibition of 3Y1 cell fusion by MuLV.