Immunosuppressive activity of the retroviral envelope protein P 15E and its possible relationship to neoplasia.

Type C retroviral infections can cause profound immunosuppression as well as neoplasms. The retroviral envelope protein p15E has both immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activities which may contribute to the pathogenicity of retroviruses. Murine and human neoplastic cells, not infected with retroviruses, have recently been found to contain p15E like antigens. In this article Ralph Snyderman and George Cianciolo discuss the potential relationship between p15E production, immunosuppression and neoplasia.