Immunological functions and phenotypes of peripheral blood lymphocytes from human T-cell leukemia virus-I carriers.
We studied immunological functions of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-seropositive healthy carriers in vitro. Proliferative responses of PBL to T-cell and B-cell mitogens such as concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) were moderately impaired in HTLV-I carriers compared with normal controls. Immunoglobulin (Ig)-producing activity of PBL stimulated with B-cell mitogens were also impaired in HTLV-I carriers. However, cytotoxic T-cell activity induced by in vitro culture was not impaired but slightly increased in HTLV-I carriers. Natural killer-cell activity was only slightly decreased. By a flow cytofluorometric analysis of the cell surface phenotypes of PBL, the percentage and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD 3-positive cells and CD 4-positive cells were significantly decreased in HTLV-I carriers. The percentage and the MFI of CD 8-positive cells was not changed. The percentage and the MFI of CD 25-positive cells were increased. These results suggest that some immunological abnormalities are already present in HTLV-I carriers and such abnormalities have some roles for the leukemogenesis from the infection of the HTLV-I into adult T-cell leukemia (ATL).
Tanaka
Y
Y
First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Oda
S
S
Nagata
K
K
Mori
N
N
Sakamoto
H
H
Eto
S
S
Yamashita
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D002469:Cell Separation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008934:Mitogens