Release of xenotropic type C RNA in response to lipopolysaccharide: activity of lipid A portion upon B lymphocytes

The present studies demonstrate that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) causes the release of endogenous xenotropic type C RNA virus from BALB/c spleen cells. The evidence suggests that virus release is stimulated by the lipid A portion of LPS and primarily involves an action of LPS on B lymphocytes. LPS had little or no effect on virus release by T lymphocytes, macrophages, or fibroblasts. These results indicate that the differentiated state of the cells plays an important role in the regulation of endogenous virus release.