Evidence for numeral and cellular reactivity against keratin and thyroglobulin in HTLV-I infected rabbits

Human T cell leukemia virus type T (HTLV-I) infection was initially associa ted with T cell leukemia and a progressive neurologic disease but has since been linked to an increasing number of autoimmune disorders, including Sjo gren's syndrome, uveitis, and polyarthritis, A survey of serum samples from a rabbit model of HTLV-I infection revealed that all had antibodies agains t keratin and thyroglobulin, Sera from several infected rabbits also reacte d with collagen, while antibody reactions with other autoantigens tested, i ncluding DNA, were rare and sporadic. In addition to antibodies, cellular r eactivity to keratin, but not thyroglobulin, was demonstrated by cellular p roliferation in presence of IL-2 and keratin, Expanded cell cultures were p ositive for T cell activation markers and CD8, Association of the auto-reac tivity with HTLV-I infection rather than random anti-cellular responses was supported by the fact that no antikeratin or antithyroglobulin was seen in uninfected controls, including that inoculated with uninfected lymphocytes . Finding autoantibodies in rabbits infected using naked HTLV-I DNA clones provided further assurance that infection induced tbe autoimmune reactions detected.