       Document 0098
 DOCN  M9490098
 TI    Retroviruses and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
 DT    9411
 AU    Lessin SR; Vowels BR; Rook AH; Department of Dermatology, University of
       Pennsylvania,; Philadelphia.
 SO    Dermatol Clin. 1994 Apr;12(2):243-53. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94320347
 AB    Since the discovery of the first human retrovirus, HTLV-I, and its
       etiologic role in ATL, the search for a retrovirus and its role in the
       development and progression of CTCL has been vigorously pursued and
       debated. Current studies in CTCL have evaluated serum antibodies to
       retroviral proteins, electron microscopy to identify viruslike
       particles, and Southern blot analysis and PCR amplification to detect
       proviral DNA sequences. There have been inconsistent findings within and
       between a variety of studies, emphasizing the need for critical
       evaluation of experimental methods and their potential shortcomings.
       Several interesting observations have included (1) serologic evidence of
       HTLV-I infection in a small subset of CTCL patients, (2) cloning of a
       deleted HTLV-I proviral genome from a B-cell line established from the
       peripheral blood of a CTCL patient, (3) detection of retrovirus in
       Langerhans cells and B cells, and (4) molecular evidence for the
       presence of an HTLV-I-like retrovirus. By viewing CTCL as a model of
       tumor progression, mechanisms by which retroviruses play a role in the
       development and progression of CTCL are facilitated. Future studies will
       need to correlate the detection of proviral sequences and the nature of
       a retroviral infection with specific cell types and stage of disease and
       determine if these findings demonstrate a causal role in CTCL or a
       secondary phenomenon due to CTCL-associated immunosuppression. It is
       likely that new data will be reported between the writing of this
       article and the time of publication; however, the currently available
       data reviewed in this article do not provide conclusive evidence that
       retroviruses play a primary etiologic role in CTCL.
 DE    DNA, Viral/ANALYSIS  Human  Leukemia-Lymphoma, T-Cell, Acute,
       HTLV-I-Associated/MICROBIOLOGY/  PATHOLOGY  Lymphoma, T-Cell,
       Cutaneous/*MICROBIOLOGY/PATHOLOGY  Polymerase Chain Reaction
       Retroviridae/*PATHOGENICITY  *Retroviridae Infections  Skin
       Neoplasms/*MICROBIOLOGY/PATHOLOGY  Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
       Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  Tumor Cells, Cultured  *Tumor Virus
       Infections  JOURNAL ARTICLE  REVIEW  REVIEW, TUTORIAL

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

