HEAT-SHOCK PROTEINS EXPRESSED ON THE SURFACE OF HUMAN T-CELL LEUKEMIA-VIRUS TYPE I-INFECTED CELL-LINES INDUCE AUTOANTIBODIES IN RABBITS

Eight human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-infected cell lines were derived in vitro from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 8 rab bits. Each rabbit was then inoculated with its own HTLV-I-transformed cells, after which all but 1 rabbit had anti-heat-shock protein (hsp) antibodies in sera. Cell line RH/K34, which failed to raise a response to hsp70, caused lethal leukemia when >2 X 10(8) live cells were inje cted into unrelated outbred rabbits. Rabbits injected with cell-free v irus isolated from RH/K34 cells produced anti-hsp70 antibodies and bec ame infected but developed no fatal disease. ELISA inhibition and flow cytometry analyses indicated that hsp molecules are expressed on the surface of RH/K34 and RH/K30, a nonlethal HTLV-I cell line used for co mparison; surface hsp expression does not occur normally. Two proteins of similar to 72 and 93 kDa were detected by Western blot in extracts of RH/K30 cells. Presence of anti-hsp70 antibodies correlated with re sistance to lethal doses of live RH/K34 cells, suggesting that hsp imm unity may influence the outcome of RH/K34 pathogenicity.