MHC CLASS-II HIERARCHY OF SUPERANTIGEN PRESENTATION PREDICTS EFFICIENCY OF INFECTION WITH MOUSE MAMMARY-TUMOR VIRUS

Superantigens (SAgs) encoded by infectious mouse mammary tumor viruses (MMTVs) play a crucial role in the viral life cycle. Their expression by infected a cells induces a proliferative immune response by SAg-reactive T cells which amplifies MMTV infection. This response most likely ensures stable MMTV infection and transmission to the mammary gland. Since T cell reactivity to SAgs from endogenous Mtv loci depends on MHC class II molecules expressed by B cells, we have determined the ability of MMTV to infect various MHC congenic mice. We show that MHC class II I-E(+) compared with I-E(-) mouse strains show higher levels of MMTV infection, most likely due to their ability to induce a vigorous SAg-dependent immune response following MMTV encounter. Inefficient infection is observed in MHC class II I-E(-) mice, which have been shown to present endogenous SAgs poorly. Therefore, during MMTV infection the differential ability of MHC class II molecules to form a functional complex with SAg determines the magnitude of the proliferative response of SAg-reactive T cells. This in turn influences the degree of T cell help provided to infected a cells and therefore the efficiency of amplification of MMTV infection.