Viral-specific humoral immune responses following transfusion-related transmission of human T cell lymphotropic virus type-I infection.
The immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes of antibodies to specific proteins of the human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) were determined by Western blot analysis of serial specimens from six individuals who experienced HTLV-I seroconversion following blood transfusion; five remained asymptomatic carriers, while one developed HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) 32 weeks posttransfusion. Analysis of Ig isotypes demonstrated that while IgM was the most frequent early response to gag (p19, p24) and env (r21e) proteins within the first 3 months following transfusion, IgG and IgA responses could also be detected within this period. HTLV-I-specific antibody responses plateaued in all Ig isotypes, including IgM, within the next 4- to 6-month period following transfusion and persisted through the entire study period (> 4 years). Comparison of antibody profiles in Ig isotypes and IgG1 and IgG3 subclass among asymptomatic carriers and one individual who developed HAM/TSP demonstrated no evidence of isotypic prominence or IgG subclass restriction in either group. These results indicate the appearance of HTLV-I-specific IgM that persists even after the primary infection and suggest that such response does not appear to provide an early marker of seroconversion. Further, we found no evidence of isotypic prominence or restriction of the antibody response in recipients who remained asymptomatic compared to one who developed HAM/TSP.
Manns
A
A
Viral Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Wilks
R J
RJ
Hanchard
B
B
Morgan
O S
OS
Rudolph
D L
DL
Lal
R B
RB
D015153:Blotting, Western; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M