In situ hybridization detection of HTLV-I RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of TSP/HAM patients and their spouses.
This is the first report of the direct detection of HTLV-I RNA in uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC's) of patients with tropical spastic paraparesis and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) and their spouses, using the technique of in situ hybridization. Twenty-one Colombian patients were tested, all of whom had antibodies to HTLV-I; the presence of HTLV-I proviral DNA in their PBMNC's was confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction technique. Of the 21 patients 15 had a clinical diagnosis of tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP/HAM), 5 were asymptomatic relatives, and 1 patient had leukemia. In situ hybridization was positive in samples from 5 patients; 2 of these were TSP/HAM patients and the other 3 were healthy wives of TSP/HAM patients. This study demonstrates for the first time that viral RNA is expressed in uncultured PBMNC's of some patients with TSP/HAM in whom proviral DNA is also present; furthermore, the detection of HTLV-I RNA in the blood of female partners of TSP/HAM patients clearly illustrates the high likelihood of HTLV-I transmission through sexual contact.
Beilke
M A
MA
Laboratory of Central Nervous System Studies, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
In
D R
DR
Gravell
M
M
Hamilton
R S
RS
Mora
C A
CA
Leon-Monzon
M
M
Rodgers-Johnson
P E
PE
Gajdusek
D C
DC
Gibbs
C J
CJ
Zaninovic
V
V
D002460:Cell Line; D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral