Bovine leukemia virus-induced lymphocytosis and increased cell survival mainly involve the CD11b+ B-lymphocyte subset in sheep.

In this study, we show that bovine leukemia virus (BLV)-induced persistent lymphocytosis (PL) results from the in vivo expansion of the CD11b+ B-lymphocyte population. This subset shares phenotypic characteristics with murine and human B-1 cells. BLV interactions with the sheep B-1-like subset were explored. We found that B-1- and B-2-like cells are initially infected to similar extents. However, in long-term-infected sheep, the viral load is higher in B-1-like cells and only B-1- and not B-2-like cells show increased ex vivo survival compared to that in uninfected sheep. Ex vivo viral expression was found in both B-1- and B-2-like cells, indicating that both cell types support viral replication. Finally, cycloheximide and a protein kinase C inhibitor (H7) that blocks the ex vivo activation of viral expression did not affect the increased survival in B-1-like cells, suggesting that resistance to apoptosis is acquired in vivo. Collectively, these results indicate a peculiar susceptibility of sheep B-1-like cells to BLV transforming effects and further support the involvement of increased survival in BLV pathogenesis.