title: Expression of HTLV-I in serum of HTLV-I-related subjects and the early detection of overt ATL in HTLV-I carriers.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies against human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) p24 and p19 were produced and employed in the in vivo expression of HTLV-I in some HTLV-I-related subjects by Western blot analysis. The antigenic determinants of these monoclonal antibodies were different from that of natural human anti-HTLV-I antibody examined. Serum p24 was identifiable in almost all of the overt ATL patients (17 of 18, 94%), but not in the chronic ATL cases or HTLV-I carriers. On the other hand, serum p19 was detected in one of the three patients with chronic ATL examined, but not in the overt ATL patients or the HTLV-I carriers. These results indicate that the in vivo expression of HTLV-I p24 and p19 which has reacted with natural anti-HTLV-I antibody can be detected by these monoclonal antibodies. Therefore, the investigation of serum HTLV-I expression may lead to the early detection of overt ATL in an HTLV-I carrier.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins