The association of antibodies against human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) pX gene mutant products with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis

J Infect Dis. 1996 May;173(5):1115-22. doi: 10.1093/infdis/173.5.1115.

Abstract

Antibodies specific for the products of the human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) pX frame-shift mutants were studied by ELISA. The serum IgG antibodies to the synthetic peptide corresponding to one nucleotide insertion at position 7784 were significantly more common in patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients than in HTLV-I carriers who had neither HAM/TSP nor adult T cell leukemia (39% vs. 5%). The seropositivities to the other synthetic peptides, which corresponded to the one nucleotide deletion at position 7475 and the internal deletion of nt 7754-7819 and nt 7853-7936, were rare. A genetic study confirmed the presence of the responsible mutation of the pX gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and central nervous system tissue from HTLV-I-infected subjects with and without HAM/TSP. These results suggest that HTLV-I pX frame-shift mutants are expressed in vivo in HTLV-I carriers; they also induce antibodies. especially in those with HAM/TSP.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Carrier State / virology
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Frameshift Mutation / genetics*
  • Gene Products, rex / immunology
  • Gene Products, tax / genetics
  • Gene Products, tax / immunology
  • Genes, Viral / genetics
  • HTLV-I Antibodies* / blood
  • HTLV-I Antibodies* / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / genetics
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / immunology
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / immunology*
  • Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / virology
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / genetics*
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / immunology
  • Transcription Factors*
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • Viral Structural Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Gene Products, rex
  • Gene Products, tax
  • HTLV-I Antibodies
  • Peptides
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic
  • Transcription Factors
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • Viral Structural Proteins
  • pX protein, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1