DEVELOPMENT OF LEUKEMIA IN MICE TRANSGENIC FOR THE TAX GENE OF HUMAN T-CELL LEUKEMIA-VIRUS TYPE-I

The human T-cell leukemia virus type I Tax protein trans-activates sev eral cellular genes implicated in T-cell replication and activation. T o investigate its leukemogenic potential, Tax was targeted to the matu re T-lymphocyte compartment in transgenic mice by using the human gran zyme B promoter. These mice developed large granular lymphocytic leuke mia, demonstrating that expression of Tax in the lymphocyte compartmen t is sufficient for the development of leukemia. Furthermore, these ob servations suggest that human T-cell leukemia virus infection may be i nvolved in the development of large granular lymphocytic leukemia.