Biology of simian virus 40 (SV40) transplantation antigen (TrAg): VI. Mechanism of induction of SV40 transplantation immunity in mice by purified SV40 T antigen (D2 protein)

Abstract

Simian virus 40 large T antigen (D2 protein), purified to homogeneity from HeLa cells infected with adenovirus 2-SV40 hybrid virus (Ad2+D2), was tested for the presence of SV40 transplantation rejection antigenic sites by the in vivo transplantation rejection assay and by the in vitro lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity assay. The results show that the D2 protein immunized BALB/c mice against a challenge of syngeneic SV40 tumor cells. The D2 protein, upon injection into C57B1/6 mice, also induced the generation of thymus-derived cytotoxic lymphocytes which specifically lysed SV40-transformed C57B1/6 mouse embryo fibroblasts. These results suggest that a product(s) coded by the early SV40 genome is present at the surface of SV40-transformed cells and acts as the transplantation rejection antigen. © 1980, All rights reserved.