Molecular and pathogenic characterization of the RFB osteoma virus: lack of oncogene and induction of osteoma, osteopetrosis, and lymphoma.

RFB virus is an ecotropic C-type retrovirus isolated from CF-1 mice, in which it is associated with induction of osteomas. Sequence analysis of the RFB provirus revealed no evidence for presence of an oncogene or a recombined env gene. RFB virus is a member of the murine leukemia virus (MuLV) group (RFB MuLV), sharing 97% nucleotide identity with the endogenous ecotropic provirus of AKR mice (Akv). Like Akv, expression of RFB MuLV mRNAs is inducible by dexamethasone treatment, indicating that FRB MuLV also shares transcriptional control signals with Akv. We assessed the pathogenic potential of RFB MuLV in NMRI mice, which, in contrast to CF-1 mice, do not contain endogenous ecotropic retroviruses. RFB MuLV induced osteomas, osteopetrosis, and lymphomas in newborn NMRI mice. Another CF-1 mouse-derived leukemia virus, FBJ MuLV, the helper virus of the FBJ osteosarcoma virus stock, as well as Akv, also induced osteomas, osteopetrosis, and lymphomas in NMRI mice similar to RFB MuLV. These findings indicate that endogenous retroviruses carry a pathogenic potential in hematopoietic tissues and in the skeleton.