Lack of erythroid characteristics in Ia-positive leukemia cell lines induced by Friend murine leukemia virus: brief communication.

A group of mouse leukemia cell lines induced by the Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) was examined for a cell membrane antigens (regulated by the I-region of the H-2 complex), as well as for erythroid characteristics. Erythroid traits tested were hemoglobin synthesis, incorporation of 59Fe into heme, and presence of globin mRNA. Of 19 lines, 13 were positive for erythroid characteristics. All of these 13 lines were a-negative. Of 19 lines, 6 were negative for erythroid characteristics, and 5 of the 6 were a-positive. The data suggested that F-MuLV-induced leukemogenesis may operate in more than 1 cell type. In addition to the primitive erythroid type of cell usually involved in leukemia induced by F-MuLV, nonerythroid Ia-positive cells may also be transformed. The exact origin of the Ia-positive leukemia cells is unknown.