Frequent clonal proliferation of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected T cells in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM-TSP)

Blood. 1992 Aug 15;80(4):1012-6.

Abstract

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) integrates its proviruses into random sites in host chromosomal DNA. Random integration of the proviruses was observed in asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers and patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP). However, clonal integration has been reported in patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), including that in the smoldering, chronic, and acute states, indicating clonal expansion of infected cells. In this study, we found that about 20% of HAM/TSP patients and their seropositive family members harbored subpopulation(s) of clonally proliferated cells infected with HTLV-1, although they still maintained randomly infected cells as a major population. These clones were stable during examination periods of 4 months to 3 years. However, these carriers or HAM/TSP patients did not show any significant indication of ATL. This extremely high frequency of clonal expansion of HTLV-1-infected cells indicates that some clones of HTLV-1-infected cells have a tendency to proliferate more efficiently than the other population without malignant transformation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Division
  • Clone Cells
  • DNA Probes
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / blood
  • Leukemia, T-Cell / microbiology
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / blood*
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Restriction Mapping
  • T-Lymphocytes / microbiology
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology*

Substances

  • DNA Probes
  • DNA, Viral