title: Antibody to the central region of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 gp46 is associated with the progression of adult T-cell leukemia.
abstract: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is an etiologic agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). HTLV-1 is spread by cell-to-cell transmission via the gp46-197 region, Asp197 to Leu216, on the envelope protein gp46. In the present study, we revealed a positive correlation between the appearance of an antibody recognizing the gp46-197 region (anti-gp46-197 antibody) and the severity of ATL. The prevalence and titer of the anti-gp46-197 antibody were found to be elevated along with the progression of ATL. In serial samples obtained from a single patient, the anti-gp46-197 antibody was detected before treatment in acute phase, then diminished after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, to which the patient had a complete response. However, the antibody appeared again before a relapse, along with an increase of the serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor level and proviral load. The results from the other six patients also indicate that seroconversion of this antibody was synchronized with the deterioration of ATL. Taken together, the findings indicate that the anti-gp46-197 antibody may be a novel beacon for gauging the efficacy of therapeutic approaches to ATL, and a survey of this antibody would be useful for identifying asymptomatic carriers infected with HTLV-1 who are at high risk of developing ATL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Fukuoka Red Cross Blood Center, 1-2-1 Kamikoga, Chikushino, Fukuoka 818-8588, Japan. y-sagara@fukuoka.bc.jrc.or.jp
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sagara
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: Eijiro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Atae
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Utsunomiya
authors.forename: Mitsushi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsujimura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shiraki
authors.forename: Seizaburo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic; C055266:gp46 protein, Human T-cell leukemia virus type I