Effects of anti-thymocyte serum on rauscher virus infection of mice

CELL-MEDIATED immune responses seem to be the principal host defence against virus-induced tumours and leukaemias¹. Transfer of sensitized lymphoid cells can produce resistance to tumour induction or transplantation, whereas depression of cell-mediated immune mechanisms results in enhanced susceptibility to viral oncogenesis or leukaemogenesis². The most potent suppressants of cellular immunity yet described are anti-lymphoid sera³. These sera have been used primarily to suppress homograft rejection after tissue transplantation, but have also been used to investigate mechanisms of viral pathogenesis. They have been found to potentiate polyoma and adenovirus oncogenesis^4,5, as well as Moloney virus leukaemogenesis⁵, whereas they delay or prevent signs of lyinphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) and yellow fever infections^6-9. We report an examination of the effects of rabbit anti-mouse thymocyte (RAMT) serum on the development of Rauscher leukaemia virus infection.