The relationship between HTLV-I-infected cell lines and uveitis.
BACKGROUND
Recently it has been revealed that human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection causes uveitis in human. We previously reported HTLV-I uveitis in a rabbit. To investigate the relationship between HTLV-I infection and uveitis, we established an HTLV-I-infected T-cell clone from the cells infiltrated in the anterior chamber of this rabbit and compared the viral production with that in other HTLV-I-infected cell lines.


METHODS
The clonality was determined by Southern blot hybridization with various restriction enzymes. Flow-cytometric analysis was used for investigating the expression of cell surface antigens. To compare viral production, we performed reverse transcriptase assay of the culture media and inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the quantity of intracellular HTLV-I antigens.


RESULTS
The established clone was Ia (MHC class II) positive T cell. This T-cell clone was able to produce about three times more HTLV-I antigens than other HTLV-I-infected cell lines tested.


CONCLUSIONS
A T-cell clone established from anterior aqueous of an HTLV-I uveitis rabbit can produce more HTLV-1 antigen than other HTLV-I-infected cell lines tested and it can be recognized easily by the immune system. Therefore, this high virus production may have a causal relation to uveitis.
Fukushima
A
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku, Japan.
Ueno
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000166:cytology; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015486:HTLV-I Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015486:HTLV-I Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase