title: Molecular analysis of a HTLV-IpX defective human adult T-cell leukemia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mikuni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wakisaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshiki
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral