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HTLV‐1 Infection of a Human Monocytic Cell Line and of Primary Cultures of Human Monocyte‐Derived Macrophages
Author(s) -
Kato Kyozo,
Douglas Steven D.,
Koprowski Hilary,
Wroblewska Zofia
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
neuropathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1440-1789
pISSN - 0919-6544
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1789.1993.tb00226.x
Subject(s) - monocyte , u937 cell , cell culture , biology , population , antigen , virus , virology , cytotoxic t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , alkaline phosphatase , t cell , immunology , immune system , medicine , in vitro , biochemistry , enzyme , genetics , environmental health
This report concerns the pathogenesis of the myelopathy associated with HTLV‐1 infection and here we present the results of investigating the effect of HTLV‐1 on cultures of human monocytes and of monocyte‐derived macrophages. The monocytic cell line U937 was successfully infected by cocultivation with lethally irradiated cells carrying HTLV‐1, as well as by inoculation of concentrated cell‐free virus preparations. On the basis of immunoperoxidase staining, we determined that 0.3 to 0.5% of the cell population infected by cocultivation, and 0.5 to 0.7% of that treated with the cell‐free virus expressed HTLV‐1 antigen. U937 cells were also transfected with HTLV‐1 proviral DNA. Two days after transfection, specific staining for HTLV‐1 p24 antigen was evident in 4 to 5% of the cell population. Primary cultures of monocyte‐derived human mocrophages could also be infected with the concentrated cell‐free virus preparations and 0.8 to 1.0% of the cells expressed the viral antigen as determined by the alkaline phosphatase‐anti‐alkaline phosphatase immunocytochemical proceduce. The presence of TNF ß in the medium supernatant of HTLV‐1‐carrying cells was documented by a bioassay in which L929 cells were used. A cytotoxic effect of cell‐free supernatants from virus‐carrying cells could be demonstrated in the case of one CNS‐derived continuous cell line. No TNF activity was detected in supernatants of U937 cells or of macrophages experimentally infected with HTLV‐1.