Spontaneous recovery from Friend retrovirus-induced leukemia. Mapping of the Rfv-2 gene in the Q/TL region of mouse MHC.

The Rfv-2 gene that influences the rate of spontaneous recovery from erythroleukemia induced by a low dose of Friend retrovirus complex was mapped to the Q/TL region of mouse MHC. Rfv-2 was physically and functionally distinct from the I-A-linked Ir gene that has been shown to control the responsiveness of Th cells to the envelope glycoprotein of Friend murine leukemia helper virus. The negative effect of the Rfv-2s allele was overcome by the B10.D2-H-2dm1 mutation of the D-L genes of H-2, suggesting functional similarities between the D-L and Q/TL genes in influencing resistance against Friend murine leukemia retrovirus complex infection or possible modification of Q/TL expression by genes in the D-L region.