Role of cytokines in termination of the B cell lymphoma dormant state in AKR mice.

The high incidence of spontaneous T cell lymphomas in AKR mice (affected by sustained viremia) can be greatly reduced by experimental manipulations including thymus removal at young age or by genetic manipulation changing the Fv-1 allele that controls replication and spread of viruses (establishing the congenic AKR.Fv-1b mice). Although T cell lymphomagenesis is prevented, all these mice were shown to carry endogenous ecotropic provirus-induced potential lymphoma cells (PLCs) in a dormant state. The termination of the dormant state, leading to a high incidence of CD5+ IgM+ B cell lymphomas, was triggered by interference with T cell functions (optimal effect observed following in vivo administration of anti-CD8 moAb), administration of T cell growth factors or by injecting the MCF-247 recombinant virus isolate (from AKR origin) that affects T cell functions. The assumption that the PLC dormant state is maintained through specific immunological mechanisms (involving T cells or antibodies recognizing PLCs) could not be substantiated experimentally. The results of the present studies suggest that T cells provide immunoregulatory signals or factors that contribute to the maintenance of the B cell lymphoma arrest and/or proliferation. Analysis of cytokine levels produced by splenocytes taken from mice during PLC dormancy or its breakdown indicated reduced levels of IL-2 and IL-4 and marked elevation of IL-1 and IL-6 associated with the termination of the dormant state. The effect of IL-1 and IL-6 on terminating the dormant state was demonstrated by injecting these cytokines into PLC carriers, thymectomized 12-month-old AKR mice, yielding 80-85% CD5+ IgM+ B cell lymphomas. The role of IL-6 on B cell lymphoma proliferation was also indicated in MCF-247 mediated termination of dormancy, by inhibiting significantly its effect via in vivo administration of anti IL-6 moAbs.