CELL-ADHESION MOLECULES IN HTLV-I INFECTION

Cell adhesion molecules expressed on the cell surface of leukemic cell s and on vascular endothelial cells may play a key role in trafficking , localization, and infiltration of leukemic cells in adult T-cell leu kemia (ATL). The predominant adhesion pathway between ATL cells or hum an T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-infected cell lines and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) is an E-selectin-mediated p athway as determined by studies using adhesion-blocking monoclonal ant ibodies, although fresh leukemic cells and HTLV-I-infected cell lines also expressed LFA-1, VLA-4, L-selectin, and CD44. Our study also stro ngly suggested the presence of adhesion pathway(s) mediated by as yet unknown cell adhesion molecule(s), to which we have recently developed monoclonal antibodies.