Immunological phenotype of lymphomas induced by avian leukosis viruses.

The production of immunoglobulin by six cell lines derived from bursal tumors induced by avian leukosis virus follows two general patterns: (i) three cell lines that have been extensively passaged in culture synthesize and secrete light chains only; (ii) three cell lines that are recently isolated produce and secrete monomeric immunoglobulin M in addition to free light chains. All six cell lines synthesize and secrete both glycosylated and unglycosylated forms of light chain. We conclude that the cell lines established from lymphomas induced by avian leukosis virus represent relatively mature, but possibly abnormal, stages in the development of chicken B-lymphocytes. The immunoglobulin M produced by the cell lines failed to form detectable immune complexes with avian leukosis virus. It therefore appears that the immunoglobulin M is not directed against viral antigens and that autogenous antigenic stimulus cannot account for the sustained growth of the neoplastic B-lymphocytes.