Normal expression of p55 interleukin 2 receptor (CD25) by lymphocytes from former blood donors seropositive for human T lymphotropic virus.
Dysregulated expression of the p55 interleukin 2 receptor (CD25) is characteristic of adult T cell leukemia (ATL) associated with human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection. In order to determine if similar changes characterize HTLV infection in the apparent absence of ATL, CD25 expression by peripheral blood lymphocytes from HTLV-seropositive former blood donors was measured using a sensitive dual-color cytofluorometric assay. When comparing the HTLV-seropositive group (N = 19) and a seronegative control group (N = 20), no significant differences were observed in either the proportions of the major lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD16/56) coexpressing CD25 or the phenotypic distribution of CD25+ cells among these lymphocyte subsets. Similarly, the total percentages of CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD19 cell subsets were unchanged; however, the percentage of CD16/56+ cells was significantly decreased in the HTLV group and reflected a decrease in the percentage of CD16/56 cells lacking CD25. These findings indicate that HTLV infection without ATL is characterized by normal CD25 expression by lymphocytes and a decreased percentage of lymphocytes with a phenotype characteristic of natural killer cells.
Prince
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American Red Cross Blood Services, Los Angeles, California 90006.
Jackson
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D018941:Antigens, CD19; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers; D001782:Blood Donors; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D018941:Antigens, CD19; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015415:Biomarkers; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2