Role of B cells in the expression of genetic resistance to growth of Rous sarcoma in the chicken.

Resistance to the development of progressively growing tumors induced by Rous sarcoma virus is a dominant trait controlled by a gene linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The effect of bursectomy (Bx) on the expression of this trait was studied in two inbred lines of chickens homozygous for different MHC alleles, and which differ with respect to the gene controlling resistance to Rous tumors. The results show that Bx alters the expression of the trait, since genetically resistant birds were rendered highly susceptible to progressive tumor growth. The bursa of Fabricius thus makes an important contribution to resistance. The results do not indicate whether genetic resistance is mediated exclusively by B cells or by another bursa-dependent population.