HTLV TAX GENE-EXPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS

Aims-To study the expression of the human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) Tax gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Methods-Blood was coll ected from 72 patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. Serum from all patients was assayed for antibodies directed against HTLV-I struct ural proteins by ELISA and western blotting. RNA was purified from fre sh blood cells and amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). After Southern blotting, the PCR products were hyb ridised with a F-32 end-labelled probe specific for the Tax gene. Resu lts-All samples were seronegative. A specific band for the Tax gene wa s found in five samples. Each of the patients positive for Tax gene ex pression had a different type of lymphoproliferative disorder. Conclus ions-Infection by HTLV-I cannot be assessed solely by immunological as says, particularly when only disrupted virions are used. Sensitive mol ecular biology assays are essential for detecting viral gene expressio n in fresh blood cells.