       Document 0017
 DOCN  M9490017
 TI    Comparative analysis of the antibody response to the HTLV-I gag and env
       proteins in HTLV-I asymptomatic carriers and HAM/TSP patients: an
       isotype and subclass analysis.
 DT    9411
 AU    Dekaban GA; King EE; Arp J; Palker TJ; Rice GP; Immunology Group, John
       P. Robarts Research Institute, London,; Ontario, Canada.
 SO    Scand J Immunol. 1994 Aug;40(2):171-80. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94323708
 AB    We have compared the immunoglobulin isotype and IgG subclass and the
       titre of neutralizing antibody responses to the human T cell
       lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) between a group of asymptomatic
       HTLV-I infected individuals and a group with the neurological disease
       HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). A
       western blot titration assay and an envelope peptide ELISA were used to
       determine the presence and titre of isotype and IgG subclass responses
       to the gag p19 and p24 proteins and to the envelope protein. Significant
       increases were observed in the number of individuals seropositive for a
       particular isotype and IgG subclass in the HAM/TSP group versus the
       asymptomatic group particularly for IgM and IgE and to a lesser extent,
       IgA. The predominant IgG subclasses to the HTLV-I p19, p24 and envelope
       proteins were IgG1 and IgG3. This finding was also observed in the
       titres of the antibody responses to these HTLV-I proteins. The HAM/TSP
       group also exhibited significantly higher neutralizing antibody titres
       than the asymptomatic group. This evidence suggests that some form of
       chronic immune stimulation might be involved in the immunopathogenesis
       of HAM/TSP. In addition, by following the Western blot titre to the IgM
       and IgE isotypes in particular, it may be possible to identify
       asymptomatic individuals progressing to HAM/TSP.
 DE    Comparative Study  Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay  Gene Products,
       env/*IMMUNOLOGY  Gene Products, gag/*IMMUNOLOGY  Human
       HTLV-I/*IMMUNOLOGY  HTLV-I Antibodies/*BIOSYNTHESIS/CLASSIFICATION
       HTLV-I Infections/*IMMUNOLOGY  IgG/BIOSYNTHESIS/CLASSIFICATION
       Immunoglobulin Isotypes/BIOSYNTHESIS  Paraparesis, Tropical
       Spastic/*IMMUNOLOGY  Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic/IMMUNOLOGY
       Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

