title: Infectious transmission of human T-cell leukemia virus to rabbits.
abstract: A rabbit lymphoid cell line (Ra-1) was established by co-cultivation with a human T-cell line (MT-2) carrying human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV). The Ra-1 cell line is chromosomally male and is persistently infected with HTLV. Ra-1 cells, with or without mitomycin C treatment, were inoculated intravenously (i.v.) into 3 female rabbits. All 3 animals responded with the production of antibodies to HTLV antigens. Lymphocytes from one of these seroconverters were cultured in the presence of T-cell growth factor (TCGF) and HTLV particles were detected in the TCGF-grown lymphocytes which were chromosomally female. Co-cultivation of lymphocytes from the 2 other seroconverters with lymphocytes from 2 anti-HTLV-negative healthy men gave rise to the establishment of an HTLV-producing T-cell line derived from each individual. Blood transfusion from one of the HTLV-infected rabbits into 2 female rabbits also resulted in the seroconversion of both recipients. An HTLV-carrying lymphoid cell line (Ra-2) was established from one of the transfusion-related seroconverters. The Ra-2 cell line was initially TCGF-dependent but later became TCGF-independent. There results indicate that HTLV can be transmitted to rabbits. These animals may provide a suitable model system for studying the mode of transmission and pathogenicity of HTLV.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kubonishi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujishita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohtsuki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niiya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D007938:Leukemia / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology / Q000637:transplantation; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral