THE ROLE OF THE IMMUNE-RESPONSE IN MULV-INDUCED LYMPHOMAGENESIS

Although the exact mechanisms of murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-induced lymphomagenesis have yet to be elucidated, it is clear that the immune reponse to viral proteins plays a critical role in this disease proce ss. The parameters for lymphomagenesis are governed by an inverse rela tionship between viral persistence and immune responsiveness. MuLV hav e evolved ways to avoid immune detection either by altering their own genome or by altering the host environment. In addition, the intrathym ic replication of MuLV during thymocyte maturation and immune selectio n plays an important role in T cell repertoire development and immune inhibition. These viruses have served as a highly effective experiment al model in understanding the many pathways by which MuLV have overcom e immune detection and thereby led to lymphomagenesis.