title: Serological and virological evidence of human T-lymphotropic virus in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: We present evidence that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, but not other mixed connective tissue disease patients, have been exposed to a retrovirus similar or identical to known human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLV). Serological studies demonstrated a high incidence of seropositivity in SLE patients to HTLV-I antigens by indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis, and to HTLV-III by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from four patients with SLE cultivated in vitro expressed HTLV-I antigens after 3 days or more in culture, and reverse transcriptase activity was detected in supernatants from short-term cultures.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002460:Cell Line; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase