ENGRAFTMENT OF HTLV-I-TRANSFORMED HUMAN T-CELL LINE INTO SCID MICE WITH NK CELL-FUNCTION

HTLV-I-transformed human T-cell line. MT-2, has been reported to succe ssfully proliferate in only the SCID mice with depletion of NK cell fu nction. However, MT-2 cells could be engrafted into SCID mice possessi ng normal NK cell function in this study. MT-2 cells (5-7 x 10(7) cell s) were intraperitoneally injected into SCID mice without the deletion of NK cell function. The SCID mice developed tumors in the peritoneal cavities 3 months after the inoculation of MT-2 cells. All tumors rea cted to anti-HTLV-I p19 and anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies by immun ofluorescence assay and were also positive for the HTLV-I gene by PCR assay. DNA obtained from main organs in group of mice with or without tumors showed a high incidence of positive signals for HTLV-I gene by PCR assay.