title: Human T cell lines established from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with human T lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy (HAM).
abstract: T cell lines were established from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocytes of two patients with human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy (HAM). These two interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent T cell lines have been cultured for more than 8 months without any accessory cells. The surface phenotype of these cells was CD2(+), CD4(+), CD8(-), Ia(+) and Tac(+). Southern blot hybridization analysis revealed the presence of HTLV-I provirus in these cells and C-type retrovirus particles were identified by electron microscopy. These findings indicate the presence of HTLV-I infected helper T lymphocytes in the CSF of the patients with HAM. These HTLV-I(+) T cell lines may be valuable for investigating the possible neutrotropism of HTLV-I and the role of HTLV-I in the pathogenesis of HAM.
mesh_terms: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D007376:Interleukin-2