Immune suppression in healthy carriers of adult T-cell leukemia retrovirus (HTLV-I): impairment of T-cell control of Epstein-Barr virus-infected B-cells.
We have examined the activities of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific memory T-cells of carriers of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) associated retrovirus (HTLV-I) and non-carriers in an ATL-endemic area, all of whom were EBV-seropositive, by assay of EBV-induced B-cell focus regression. The result showed that immune suppression, as represented by lowering of the regression, was present in 18 (29%) out of 63 healthy HTLV-I carriers, in contrast to none of 63 matched control persons (healthy non-carriers). This finding suggests that a suppression of cell-mediated immunity is induced by a persistent infection with ATL retrovirus.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002353:Carrier State; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens