Modification of cell surface glycoproteins, macrophage cytostasis, and blood-borne metastatic properties of the murine RAW117 large cell lymphoma by virus superinfection.

Highly metastatic sublines of the murine RAW117-P large cell lymphoma parental line have been selected sequentially in vivo for enhanced blood-borne organ colonization. We found that the subline RAW117-H10, selected 10 times for liver colonization, formed more than 200 times as many liver tumor nodules than the RAW117-P line and showed loss of cell surface RNA tumor virus Mr 70,000 envelope glycoprotein and sensitivity to activated macrophage-mediated cytostasis. Superinfection of RAW117-H10 cells with endogenous RNA tumor virus isolated from RAW117-P cells caused increases in Mr 70,000 envelope glycoprotein expression and sensitivity to activated macrophage-mediated cytostasis concomitant with loss of liver metastatic properties. The results suggest that RAW117 cell surface Mr 70,000 envelope glycoprotein is involved in host macrophage-mediated surveillance mechanisms and metastatic properties.