Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
HUMAN ADULT T-CELL LEUKEMIA VIRUS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH DISEASE
Adv Viral Oncol; 5:147-72 1985. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/85611487 Hunsmann G; Hinuma Y; German Primate Center, D-3400 Gottingen, Federal Republic of; Germany
Abstract:
A historical overview of human adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) and its association with disease is presented. ATLV and human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) belong to a novel group of retroviruses, tentatively named primate lymphotropic retroviruses. In certain geographic regions, primates, including humans, are often infected with members of this virus group, and a picture is emerging of how these viruses might have spread throughout the world. HTLV/ATLV are discussed including virus-infected cell lines, characterization of the virus and its gene products (the particle, core polypeptides, reverse transcriptase, env gene products), the viral genome and the integrated provirus, hypothetical mechanisms of transformation, and infectivity and host range. Seroepidemiology and association with diseases are also discussed including test systems and incidences of serum antibodies in humans and monkeys (HTLV/ATLV antibodies in Japanese and in Africans, HTLV/ATLV antibodies outside adult T-cell leukemia (ATL)-endemic areas, link between infection with ATLV and immune-complex diseases, and HTL/ATLV antibodies in monkeys). The association between ATL and infection with ATLV is of the kind one would expect for an etiological agent. The endemic regions of infection with ATLV and the prevalence of ATL are congruent. Antibodies to the virus are regularly found in ATL patients (pts), and some healthy carriers of ATLV were observed to develop overt ATL in a retrospective study. Tumor cells from ATL pts, after culturing in vitro, express viral antigen. Diagnostic tests have now been developed to routinely screen blood donors for ATLV antibodies. This should eliminate accidental transmission by transfusion. These viruses are not highly infectious in vitro or in vivo. Precautions like those established for the handling of pts with hepatitis B virus infection and the potentially infectious material derived from them should be sufficient to effectively prevent accidental infection of clinical and laboratory personnel. (148 Refs)
Keywords: Adult Africa Animal Antibodies, Viral/ANALYSIS Antigens, Viral/IMMUNOLOGY Blacks Cell Line DNA, Viral/ANALYSIS Haplorhini Human HTLV-BLV Viruses/*GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY Japan Leukemia/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*ETIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY *Retroviridae Infections United States Viral Proteins/ANALYSIS JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
