title: Detection of retrovirus in patients with myeloproliferative disease.
abstract: RNA-directed DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) activity was detected in platelets from 4/4 patients with primary proliferative polycythaemia (PPP), 7/7 patients with essential thrombocythaemia (ET), 1/4 patients with relative "stress" polycythaemia, 0/2 patients with secondary polycythaemia, and 0/3 normal subjects. The activity appeared to be particle-associated and was detected under conditions not appropriate for any known cellular enzymes. Active particulate fractions from 1 patient with PPP and 1 patient with ET were examined by electron microscopy and revealed objects with the features of retroviruses. Similar retrovirus-like particles were observed in 2/2 further patients with PPP and 2/2 further patients with ET but in 0/3 controls.
authors: Department of Biology, Southampton University.
authors: M T
authors: MT
authors: Boyd
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Maclean
authors: D G
authors: DG
authors: Oscier
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis*; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014166:Transferases / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014166:Transferases; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase