IMMUNOGLOBULIN-SYNTHESIS BY LYMPHOID-CELLS TRANSFORMED INVITRO BY ABELSON MURINE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS

The majority of cell lines derived by infection of murine bone marrow cells with Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) synthesize a μ chain but no detectable light chain. Aside from this μ-only phenotype, lines that make only light chain, both chains or no immunoglobulin-related polypeptides have also been found. Two lines have been studied in detail: one that makes only μ chain and one that makes only κ light chain. Synthesis of both polypeptides can be increased by modifying the culture conditions so as to decrease the growth rate of the cells. Although some κ chain secretion was observed, neither secreted nor surface μ was detected. We suggest that the μ-only phenotype may be an early normal step in the pathway of B lymphocyte maturation. © 1979.