Detection of HTLV type I provirus by in situ polymerase chain reaction in mouthwash mononuclear cells of HAM/TSP patients and HTLV type I carriers.
Molecular studies have revealed the presence of HTLV-I provirus DNA in saliva of HTLV-I-infected subjects. However, cellular localization has not been determined. In the present study, we have used in situ PCR technique to study saliva-associated cells for localization of HTLV-I proviral DNA. We found that HTLV-I proviral DNA was present in the nuclei and cytoplasm of salivary lymphocytes in five (71%) of seven HTLV-I-seropositive subjects. The percentage of infected cells in positive mouthwash samples ranged from 0.5 to 2%. None of the HTLV-I-negative patients had HTLV-I provirus in saliva. The localization of HTLV-I provirus DNA suggests that salivary lymphocytes can serve as vector for HTLV-I infection through saliva.
Achiron
A
A
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kagoshima University, Sakuhagaoka, Japan.
Higuchi
I
I
Takenouchi
N
N
Matsuoka
E
E
Hashimoto
K
K
Izumo
S
S
Shohat
B
B
Osame
M
M
D002353:Carrier State; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D009067:Mouthwashes; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012463:Saliva / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D009067:Mouthwashes