title: Human T-lymphotropic virus types I and II.
abstract: Human T-lymphotropic virus types I (HTLV-I) and II (HTLV-II) are members of a family of four known retroviruses that are oncogenic as opposed to cytopathic. This family includes HTLV-I and -II, bovine leukemia virus, and simian T-cell leukemia virus. The two types of HTLV are closely related, and for more than a decade we have been aware of the presence of these viruses in humans. In the first part of this article I summarize recent epidemiologic and clinical findings related to the presence of HTLV-I and -II in the Americas. In the second part, I discuss how these viruses may regulate themselves and how in turn they might cause leukemia and neurologic disease in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90024-1678.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rosenblatt
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas / Q000453:epidemiology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans