Expression of HTLV-I in serum of HTLV-I-related subjects and the early detection of overt ATL in HTLV-I carriers

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 139; no. 5; pp. 1509 - 1513
• Main Authors: Ishibashi, K, Hanada, S, Hashimoto, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Assoc Immnol 01.09.1987; American Association of Immunologists
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Antigens, Viral - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier State - diagnosis; Carrier State - microbiology; Deltaretrovirus - immunology; Deltaretrovirus - isolation & purification; Deltaretrovirus Infections - diagnosis; Deltaretrovirus Infections - microbiology; Epitopes - immunology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Retroviridae Proteins - immunology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Virus; Human; Proteins; Antigenic determinant; Leukemia; T-Lymphocyte; Retroviridae; Serum; Monoclonal antibody; Detection; HTLV-I virus
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.139.5.1509

Monoclonal antibodies against human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) p24 and p19 were produced and employed in the in vivo expression of HTLV-I in some HTLV-I-related subjects by Western blot analysis. The antigenic determinants of these monoclonal antibodies were different from that of natural human anti-HTLV-I antibody examined. Serum p24 was identifiable in almost all of the overt ATL patients (17 of 18, 94%), but not in the chronic ATL cases or HTLV-I carriers. On the other hand, serum p19 was detected in one of the three patients with chronic ATL examined, but not in the overt ATL patients or the HTLV-I carriers. These results indicate that the in vivo expression of HTLV-I p24 and p19 which has reacted with natural anti-HTLV-I antibody can be detected by these monoclonal antibodies. Therefore, the investigation of serum HTLV-I expression may lead to the early detection of overt ATL in an HTLV-I carrier.