possible role of a retrovirus in the expression of tumor-specific antigens of the Meth A sarcoma.

The serologically defined tumor-specific surface antigen (TSSA) of the chemically-induced BALB/c Meth A sarcoma, highly restricted to one of 20 sarcomas of BALB/c origin, has been detected on a Moloney murine sarcoma virus (Mo-MuSV)-transformed BALB/c 3T3 cell lines, designated IIA(v). The immunogenicity of the IIA(v) cell in tumor-rejection assays was specific for the Meth A sarcoma, supporting the evidence for a close relationship between the TSSA and the tumor-associated transplantation antigen (TATA) of this tumor. Infection of SC-I cells with retroviruses present in cultured filtrates of IIA(v) cells resulted in Meth A antigen expression. The retroviruses associated with Meth A antigen expression have been tentatively identified as replication and/or transformation-defective XC- MuLV. The possible roles of Mo-MuSV and cellular genes of the BALB/c strain of mice in the expression of the Meth A antigen are discussed.