The Journal of Immunology, Vol 139, Issue 5 1509-1513, Copyright © 1987 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

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

K Ishibashi, S Hanada and S Hashimoto

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.

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