title: Antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia-virus-associated antigen (ATLA) in sera from patients with ATL and controls in Japan: a nation-wide sero-epidemiologic study.
abstract: A nation-wide sero-epidemiologic survey of adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV), detected es anti-ATLA (ATLV-associated antigen), was made in Japan. Sera from adult donors in 15 different locations were screened for anti-ATLA. High incidences (6 to 37%) of antibody-positive donors were found in seven regions, one in northern Japan, and the others in southwestern regions. These areas are ATLV-endemic areas corresponding to ATL-endemic areas. Examination of sera from healthy donors aged 6 to 80 years in ATL-endemic areas showed an age-dependent increase of seropositive donors with a maximum of about 30% at 40 years of age. Anti-ATLA was found in all but two of 142 patients with ATL. Anti-ATLA-positive patients with ATL were mainly found in ATLV-endemic areas, and only a few in ATL-nonendemic areas. Six patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in ATLV-nonendemic areas gave a negative reaction for anti-ATLA. The geometric mean titer of anti-ATLA of patients with ATL was higher than that of healthy donors.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000956:Antigens, Viral