title: Epitope mapping of HTLV envelope seroreactivity in LGL leukaemia.
abstract: Sera from approximately 50% of patients with large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukaemia react with a recombinant human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV) transmembrane envelope protein, p21e. Two immunodominant epitopes within env p21e have been defined by reactivity against recombinant proteins GD21 and BA21. In this study sera from 41 patients with LGL leukaemia were examined for reactivity against these recombinant HTLV env proteins. Overall, 21/41 (51%) sera reacted to p21e. Only two sera reacted to GD21. The predominant immunoreactivity against p21e was directed against the BA21 epitope, with 19/41 (46%) sera being BA21 positive. Seroconversion to BA21 protein was also documented. PCR analyses confirmed the low incidence of protypical HTLV sequences (2/41, 5%). These data document an association between BA21 seroreactivity and LGL leukaemia. This finding raises the possibility that such BA21 seroreactivity could be due to cross-reactivity to a cellular or retroviral antigen sharing some amino acid homology with the transmembrane glycoprotein of HTLV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute at the University of South Florida, Tampa 33612, USA.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Loughran
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Hadlock
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perzova
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Foung
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Poiesz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000276:immunology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology*; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / Q000276:immunology*; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C055265:gp21 protein, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1