[Investigation of retroviral infection in human acute myeloid leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the potentiality of retroviral etiology in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML).


METHODS
Cell culture techniques, direct immunogold silver staining(D-IGSS), reverse transcriptase (RT)assay, XC syncytium assay, and electron microscopy were employed to evaluate retrovirus associated antigens (RVAAgs), RT activities, CPE, and virus particles of both leukemic cells and normal hematopoietic cells.


RESULTS
RVAAgs were detected by D-IGSS in 50.0% of fresh AML cell samples and 87.5% of cultured AML samples. RT assay showed that RVAAg-positive samples from 14 cases simultaneously expressed RT activities, and XC syncytium assay also revealed positive results. Electron microscopy demonstrated typical type C retrovirus particles at various maturation in 75% of cultured leukemic cell samples. In contrast, neither RVAAgs and RT activity nor syncytium and virus particles were detected in normal controls.


CONCLUSIONS
AML cells harbor the entire genome(s) of retrovirus(es), which could release into extracellular spaces in intact particles via budding from the target cells stimulated in vitro by appropriate RV inducing agents. The exact relationship between these viruses and AML etiology is uncertain and needs further study.
Department of Hematology, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Medical University, Hangzhou.
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R
Xu
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Gao
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Wang
D000328:Adult; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D012192:Retroviridae Infections; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D012191:Retroviridae Proteins