Immunological and functional activity of spleen lymphocytes from mice infected by Acholeplasma laidlawii cells and Rauscher virus.

The duration of Acholeplasma laidlawii antigen persistence in mice, resistant to Rausher leukemia virus, after infection with both A. laidlawii cells and Rausher virus has been studied. The antigen persistence was accompanied by marked depression of immune response which was especially severe in case of mixed acholeplasmavirus infection. Such immunosuppression and observed infiltration of the spleen with immature leukemic cells can be regarded as a preleukosis. Immunosuppression was accompanied by an increase of the transport of carbohydrates inthe lymphocytes. This stimulation an be explained by the exchange of lipid components between acholeplasma and lymphocyte membranes resulted in increase of lymphocyte membrane fluidity, or it may be due to the mitogenic effect of A. laidlawii cells and virus, accompanied by the same membrane effect.