title: Antigenicity of human T-cell leukemia virus-associated gp52: greater response in leukemia patients compared to healthy donors exposed to the virus.
abstract: Monoclonal antibody HT462 recognizes a human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated Mr 52,000 glycoprotein (HA-gp52), which is found on the surface of HTLV-infected cells. Whether HA-gp52 is encoded by the virus or by the infected cells has not yet been established. Using monoclonal HT462 in a competitive binding assay, natural human antibodies specific for HA-gp52 were detected in 97% of the patients from the United States, the Caribbean, and Japan with adult T-cell leukemia but not in healthy donors not exposed to HTLV-I. In contrast, antibodies to HA-gp52 occur in healthy virus-exposed donors, but at a lower prevalence than that observed in patients. Among Japanese from HTLV-I-endemic areas and exposed to the virus as indicated by the presence of antibodies to disrupted HTLV-I, 93% of adult T-cell leukemia patients were also seropositive for HA-gp52 compared to only 16% of healthy individuals. Differing sensitivities in the methods of assaying antibodies to HTLV and HA-gp52 were not responsible for these observations as shown by the lack of correlation of HTLV-I antibody titer with the presence of antibody to HA-gp52. Among adult T-cell leukemia patients, antibody titers to HTLV-I and HA-gp52 also varied independently. These results indicate that HA-gp52 in humans is antigenic and correlated with disease. Detection of antibody to this protein in asymptomatic individuals may be indicative of a predisease condition.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robert-Guroff
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011817:Rabbits; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins