Abstract
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) has been associated originally with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). It is thought to be transmitted by sexual contact, from mother to child by milk, and by transfusion of infected blood. We measured anti-HTLV-I antibodies (particle agglutination; PA, Western blotting; Wb), and IgG subclasses (IgGs.), β2-microglobulin (β2-m), and fibronectin (FN) in sera from 5 cases with leukemia that anti-HTLV-I antibody changed from seronegative to positive by blood transfusion and studied these course. The results were following;
1) In serum IgGs., IgG1 and IgG3 levels increased transiently or continuously compared with the blood transfusion before.
2) Serum β2-m increased transiently at PA positive conversion. Moreover, serum FN decreased transiently at the same phase.
3) PA titer changed to seropositive within about one month after the blood transfusion.
4) By Wb, the IgM type antibodies to p19, p24 and p53 were expressed at the begining, and switched subsequently to the IgG type antibodies.
5) These parameters are considered to be important in order to clarify the early response in the host defence mechanisms to HTLV-I infection.
