THE INFLUENCE OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSION AND ALLO-GRAFTING ON VIRUS-INDUCED LYMPHATIC LEUKEMIA IN MICE

Abstract

SUMMARY Six-week-old BALB/c mice were inoculated with either 10^2.1 or 10^0.1 ID₃₀ of lymphatic leukemia virus. Groups of infected mice were treated with the following: antilymphocyte antiserum (ALS), 0.25 ml i.p. twice weekly for 8 weeks; azathioprine, 2 mg/kg i.p. daily; and combined ALS and azathioprine. The mortality from leukemia was increased in all treated groups. The data suggest that the combination of ALS plus azathioprine may act synergistically. Allogeneic skin grafts were placed on duplicate series of animals. These mice demonstrated an inhibition of viral leukemogenesis. Mice not inoculated with virus but given ALS plus azathioprine also developed leukemia. This condition was inhibited in mice receiving allogeneic skin grafts.