Retrovirus-like particles in an Epstein-Barr virus-producing cell line derived from a patient with chronic progressive myelopathy.
A B-lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) of polyclonal origin was isolated from a 30-year-old male patient with a chronic progressive myelopathy clinically resembling multiple sclerosis (MS). The LCL expresses Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded proteins and on transmission electron microscopy (EM) the LCL was shown to produce both EBV particles and retrovirus-like particles spontaneously. The LCL was negative for human retrovirus (HIV-I and HTLV-I) sequences by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore the patient was seronegative to these retroviruses including HTLV-II and HIV-II. We, therefore, suggest that the LCL is double-infected with EBV and a hitherto uncharacterized human retrovirus. The possible implications of these two viruses on development of diseases are discussed.
Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
M
M
Sommerlund
G
G
Pallesen
A
A
Møller-Larsen
H J
HJ
Hansen
S
S
Haahr
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007181:Inclusion Bodies, Viral / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D015703:Antigens, CD