IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN T-CELL LEUKEMIA LYMPHOMA VIRUS TYPE-I ANTIBODIES, DNA, AND PROTEIN IN PATIENTS WITH POLYMYOSITIS/

Objective, To investigate a possible association between human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I) and polymyositis (PM), Methods . Sera and muscle biopsy samples from 9 Jamaican PM patients were comp ared with specimens from American HTLV-I-positive PM patients and norm al controls. Sera were evaluated for HTLV antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot, The biopsy samples were analyzed for HTLV-I/II DNA by polymerase chain reaction and were also immunohi stochemically stained for HTLV gp46 envelope protein, Results. Seven o f the 8 Jamaican PM patients from whom sera were available were HTLV-I seropositive, The muscle biopsies of all 9 Jamaican patients demonstr ated severe lymphocytic infiltration, cellular degeneration, myofiber atrophy, and fibrosis. Each muscle biopsy specimen contained HTLV-I DN A, Two of 6 samples demonstrated intense staining for HTLV-I gp46 in m any of the invading mononuclear cells and weak staining for HTLV-I gp4 6 in many of the invading mononuclear cells and weak staining in the a djacent myocytes, Two other specimens were weakly positive for gp46 in rare mononuclear cells, All control specimens were negative for the p resence of HTLV-I DNA and protein, Conclusion. HTLV-I is associated wi th an inflammatory muscle disease characterized by direct invasion of the affected muscle by HTLV-I-infected mononuclear cells.