IN-SITU DEMONSTRATION OF THE HTLV-I GENOME IN THE SPINAL-CORD OF A PATIENT WITH HTLV-I-ASSOCIATED MYELOPATHY

Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization, we in vestigated the HTLV-I genome in the CNS of an HTLV-I-associated myelop athy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patient with a 20-year dis ease duration. Neuropathologically, there was severe white matter dege neration throughout the spinal cord, but lymphocytic infiltrates were not evident in any lesion. PCR amplification of the pX region of HTLV- I DNA detected its sequence in the spinal cord and all extra-CNS tissu e samples. In situ hybridization using probes complementary to the pX and gag regions detected the HTLV-I genome in the cytoplasm and nucleu s of cells in the thoracic cord. The findings indicate a direct involv ement of HTLV-I in the neurodegeneration of HAM/TSP.