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Retroviral sero‐reactivity in LGL leukaemia patients and family members
Author(s) -
Nyland Susan B.,
Feith David J.,
Poss Mary,
Olson Thomas L.,
Krissinger Daniel J.,
Poiesz Bernard J.,
Ruscetti Francis W.,
Loughran Thomas P.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/bjh.16223
Subject(s) - retrovirus , immunology , virology , cytotoxic t cell , medicine , leukemia , biology , virus , in vitro , genetics
T‐cell large granular lymphocyte (T‐LGL) leukaemia is characterized by a clonal proliferation of cytotoxic T cells and is frequently associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Sera from some LGL leukaemia patients react to a portion of the human T‐cell leukaemia virus (HTLV‐1/2) transmembrane envelope protein, BA21, although HTLV‐1/2 infection is rare in LGL leukaemia patients. Here we show that family members, including spouses, of an LGL leukaemia patient had elevated LGL counts, BA21 reactivity and, additionally, recognition of HIV‐1 gp41. Thus, both LGL leukaemia patients and clinically normal contacts sharing the same environment have evidence of exposure to a retrovirus.