Defect in Cellular Immunity of Leukemia Virus-Infected Mice Assessed by a Macrophage Migration-Inhibition Assay 1

Summary Cellular immunity in leukemic mice was studied using Friend leukemia virus and susceptible BALB/c mice. Injection of this virus into the test mice resulted in rapid development of splenomegaly and other symptoms of leukemia. There was a concomitant decrease in the ability of peritoneal cells from these animals to respond to PPD in vitro, as assessed by the macrophage migration-inhibition procedure. Sensitization of normal mice with mycobacteria in Freund's complete adjuvant resulted in rapid development of cellular immunity as assessed by the migration-inhibition assay. Failure to detect cellular immunity by this assay with peritoneal cells from leukemia virus-infected mice correlates with the marked decrease in humoral immunity, as well as cellular immunity previously assessed by skin graft rejection assays.