Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1989. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
HUMAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC RETROVIRUSES (HTLV-I, II, AND III): THE BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF ADULT T-CELL LEUKEMIA/LYMPHOMA AND AIDS
AIDS: Modern Concepts and Therapeutic Challenges. Broder S, ed. New York, Marcel Dekker, p. 1-21, 1987.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/89650435 Gallo RC; Streicher HZ; Lab. of Tumor Cell Biology, NCI, Bethesda, MD
Abstract:
Retroviruses in relation to leukemia and AIDS are reviewed under the following headings: general biology of retroviruses, general features of human retroviruses, characteristics of leukemic cells and of the disease associated with human T-lymphotropic virus HTLV-I, origin and spread of HTLV-I and epidemiology of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, mechanism of HTLV-I T-cell transformation, HTLV-III and the origin of AIDS, HTLV-III-associated diseases, cytopathic effect of HTLV-III on T4 cells, heterogeneity of HTLV-III, and prevention and treatment of HTLV-III infection. HTLV-I has been linked to the cause of some T-cell malignancies in a way that provides the clearest evidence available on the direct cause of a human cancer. This evidence includes (1) epidemiological association; (2) in vitro transformation of primary human T-cells; (3) lymphoma induction in monkeys by the closely-related simian T-lymphotropic virus-I; (4) results showing a monoclonal distribution of viral genes (provirus) in the tumor cell DNA and no viral sequences in other tissues, suggesting that the virus entered the patient at or before the time of the first T-cell neoplastic transformation; and (5) numerous animal models (chicken, mouse, rat, cat, cow, and Gibbon ape) showing that leukemias and lymphomas may be induced by retroviruses. HTLV-I also appears to play an indirect role in the cause of some other malignancies, such as B-cell tumors in HTLV-I-endemic regions. HTLV-II also probably causes some malignancies, but more evidence is needed. Like HTLV-I (and probably also HTLV-II), HTLV-III probably was introduced to man from African green monkeys or other primates, either directly or indirectly. Also similar to HTLV-I is HTLV-III's mode of transmission, T4 tropism, in vitro mimicry of the disease, and presence of a tat gene. Unlike HTLV-I and -II, the virus that causes AIDS contains at least two additional genes, has strong cytopathic effects and greater structural similarities to the lentiretroviruses, and generally is more infectious. (50 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*GENETICS Cell Transformation, Viral Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral Gene Expression Regulation Genes, Viral Human HIV/*GENETICS HTLV-I/*GENETICS HTLV-II/*GENETICS Leukemia-Lymphoma, T-Cell, Acute, HTLV-I-Associated/*GENETICS MONOGRAPH REVIEW REVIEW, TUTORIAL
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1989. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
