# MECHANISMS OF B CELL TRANSFORMATION AND LYMPHOMOGENESIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · WISTAR INSTITUTE · 1987 · $144,576

## Abstract

The research concerns the mechanisms of neoplastic transformation of B
cells and their progression to form metastatic lymphomas.  As a model
system, we are studying avian lymphoid leukosis (LL), a common B cell
neoplasm of chickens induced by slowly transforming RNA tumor viruses of
the avian leukosis virus (ALV) group.  Previous studies of LL, both in this
and other laboratories, indicate that the natural history of the disease is
characterized by a multi-stage process that is related to the maturation of
the B lymphocyte.  Our aim is to explore the relationship between cellular
differentiation and maturation and the viral or oncogene controlled events
of infection, transformation and metastasis.  Specifically, we will i)
Determine whether the capacity of the ALV to infect and replicate in
lymphocytes is dependent on the state of differentiation or maturation of
the B cell, and determine the basis of differential infection of bursal
cells at the follicular level; ii) determine whether LL tumor progression
and metastases are associated with immunosuppression related to expression
of viral or MHC antigens; iii) determine whether virus-induced
transformation of bursacytes occurs prior to or after V-C joining of
immunoglobulin heavy or light chain; iv) determine whether resistance to
tumor development in ALV-susceptible lines of chickens is related to a
defect in viral replication; vi) examine the expression of the cellular
oncogenes c-myc and Blym; during normal B cell maturation and at different
stages of LL tumor progression; vii) analyze B cell maturation and early
events in ALV and oncogene-induced transformation in a newly developed in
vitro culture system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3177607
- **Project number:** 5R01CA039000-03
- **Recipient organization:** WISTAR INSTITUTE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** DW1XZMGNFBL4
- **Principal Investigator:** DONALD L EWERT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $144,576
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-09-30 → 1988-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3177607

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3177607, MECHANISMS OF B CELL TRANSFORMATION AND LYMPHOMOGENESIS (5R01CA039000-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3177607. Licensed CC0.

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