EXPRESSION OF VIRAL T-ANTIGEN IN PATHOLOGICAL TISSUES FROM TRANSGENICMICE CARRYING JC-SV40 CHIMERIC DNAS

Immunostaining methods were used to detect viral T-antigen and the cel lular protein p53 in pathological tissues obtained from transgenic mic e carrying JC-SV40 hybrid viral DNAs. A transgenic mouse carrying the SV40 regulatory region and JC virus (JCV) T-antigen-coding sequences e xhibited an SV40-characteristic choroid plexus papilloma that expresse d JCV T-antigen and p53. JCV-associated pathology was observed in two other mice in which the JCV regulatory signals directed SV40 T-antigen -induced adrenal neuroblastomas and brain neoplastic cells. However, t hese mice also exhibited an SV40-characteristic osteosarcoma and abdom inal lymphoma that contained SV40 T-antigen and p53-positive cells. Co ntrasting thymic pathology was observed in the two types of mice where the SV40 regulatory region directed a JCV T-antigen-induced thymoma i n one mouse, and the JCV regulatory region directed SV40 T-antigen-ind uced thymic hypoplasia in two other mice.