Molecular analysis of a HTLV-IpX defective human adult T-cell leukemia.
Fresh and cultured leukemia cells from an adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patient which possessed gag and env gene defective human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) provirus genome were molecularly analyzed. Cells from both fresh and the established cell line, named KB-1 showed identical surface markers of helper T cells, expressed the interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor and had an identical defective HTLV-I provirus genome with deletions of the gag and env genes involving pX gene exon 2. The KB-1 cells grew vigorously in vitro, even in the absence of IL-2 and the culture supernatant of KB-1 contained a large amount of IL-2. Neither pX mRNA nor p40(TAX) protein was detected in the KB-1 cells. The collective evidence suggests that the pX gene was not functioning in this particular ATL case. The biological function of the HTLV-I genes, especially the pX gene is discussed in relation to the early and late leukemogenesis of ATL.
Sakurai
H
H
Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Kondo
N
N
Ishiguro
N
N
Mikuni
C
C
Ikeda
H
H
Wakisaka
A
A
Yoshiki
T
T
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015752:Genes, env / Q000235:genetics*; D015750:Genes, gag / Q000235:genetics*; D016355:Genes, pX / Q000235:genetics*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral