INFECTION OF CHOROID-PLEXUS CELLS BY HUMAN T-CELL LEUKEMIA-VIRUS TYPE-I

Very little is known about the factors that determine the outcome of i nfection by human T cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I) and the neuro tropism of this virus is still a controversial point, In transgenic mi ce, the HTLV-I LTR is active mainly in the central nervous system (CNS ), in parenchyma as well as in ependymal and choroid plexus cells. The latter are of particular interest and could represent the way of entr y of the virus into the CNS. In this study we show that primary cultur es of sheep choroid plexus can be infected with HTLV-I, leading to cha racteristic multinucleated syncytial cells containing virus RNA and pr oteins. HTLV-I p24 Gag protein was detected in the culture medium and the presence of virus particles was observed by electron microscopy 40 days after infection. At this time post-infection HTLV-I could be tra nsmitted to human cord blood cells.