title: High IgM antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type I in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Twenty-six percent of 53 systemic lupus erythematosus sera had high levels of IgM antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus Type I, significantly more than the 5% of normal controls. Neither IgG antibodies to Type I virus nor IgM or IgG antibodies to Type II virus were increased in lupus. Further analysis using competition immunoassay and Western blot techniques also suggested that the IgM Type I antibodies in lupus sera were directed against viral antigens but did not completely exclude a nonviral reaction. Other studies also have not found IgG antibodies to the Type I virus but have not tested for IgM antibodies. Our study suggests that human T-lymphotropic virus Type I or a related virus may be involved in the pathogenesis of some cases of systemic lupus erythematosus.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012016:Reference Values; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014764:Viral Proteins