Genetic factors infuencing mouse type-C RNA virus induction by naturally occurring B cell mitogens.

The present studies demonstrate that xenotropic type C virus is efficiently released in response to lipopolysaccharide by spleen cells of a wide variety of inbred mouse strains. Lipopolysaccharide-mediated virus release primarily involves B lymphocytes and is in part genetically determined. Virus release can also be efficiently stimulated by other naturally occurring B cell mitogens, including Nocardia water soluble mitogen, and PPD. The evidence indicates that these agents act synergistically with halogeneated pyrimidines, but not with each other, to cause virus release. These results indicate that B cell mitogens act to release virus by a mechanism that differs from that of halogenated pyrimidines.