Blood, 1973, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 885-892.
© 1973 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Change in Marrow and Spleen CFU Compartments
Following Leukemia Virus Infection: Comparison of
Friend and Rauscher Virus
James P. OKunewick 1 and
Eleanore L. Phillips 1
1 Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15212.
The effects of the Friend and Rauscher leukemia viruses on the marrow and spleen
colony-forming unit compartments have
been studied. It was found that the two
viruses produced qualitatively similar but
quantitatively different effects relative to
each other. Comparison of the effects of
the individual virus on spleen with those
on the marrow also showed striking differences. In the spleen by 14 days after
infection with either virus the CFU compartment was grossly enlarged. In the
marrow of the Friend-infected mouse the
CFU number was not significantly different
from normal, and in the Rauscher-infected
mouse there was a 50% drop in marrow
CFU. Measurement of the F factor showed
that infection by either virus resulted in
colony-forming units that were deficient
as compared to the normal in their ability
to successfully "seed" in the spleens of
irradiated normal recipients, with the
greater depression in F factor being found
in cells obtained from spleen tissue. These
results indicate that in both cases the nature of the host tissue (marrow versus
spleen) exerts a significant modifying effect on the expression of the virus action,
and also suggest that the pluripotent
colony-forming unit may be a target cell
for these viruses.
Submitted on March 5, 1973
Revised on May 14, 1973
Accepted on May 15, 1973
