PATHOGENIC PROPERTIES OF HTLV-II

人类T细胞白血病病毒，1型（HTLV-I）和II型（HTLV-II） 是逆转录病毒家族的密切相关成员， 相似的生物学特性和对T淋巴细胞的嗜性。HTLV-1是 与淋巴增生和神经系统疾病有关。 虽然HTLV-II在人类疾病中的作用尚未完全阐明， 据了解，最近的研究表明，感染也 与神经系统疾病有关更好地了解 我们一直在研究HTLV-II的致病性的分子特性， 以及与感染相关的免疫学特征。 在初步研究中，我们已经证明，至少有两个 密切相关，但不同的病毒分子亚型。在 此外，可以表明，与HTLV-I相反，HTLV-I具有 HTLV-II对CD 4 + T淋巴细胞的偏好性似乎 优先感染CD 8 + T淋巴细胞。我们打算扩大这些 提出初步意见，并提出以下研究建议。首先我们将 对选定的基因区域进行广泛的核苷酸序列分析 大量的前病毒。这将允许更详细的 病毒的分类，也许还有 其他亚型。与此同时，我们将开展研究， 确定主要亚型是否具有表型差异。是 我还打算确认和扩大我们的初步意见， 病毒对CD 8 + T淋巴细胞具有优先嗜性，我们将 研究感染是否与克隆扩增有关， 某些CD 8群体。这些研究不仅可以增加我们的 了解病毒的致病特性，但也将 为研究其在人类疾病中的作用提供了坚实的基础。

The human T cell leukemia viruses, type 1 (HTLV-I) and type II (HTLV-II) are closely related members of a family of retroviruses which have similar biological properties and a tropism for T lymphocytes. HTLV-1 is associated with both lymphoproliferative and neurological disorders. Although the role of HTLV-II in human disease has yet to be completely understood, recent studies have suggested that infection is also associated with neurological disorders. To better understand the pathogenicity of HTLV-II we have been studying the molecular properties of the virus and the immunological features associated with infection. In preliminary studies we have demonstrated that there are at least two closely related, but distinct molecular subtypes of the virus. In addition, it could be shown, that in contrast to HTLV-I, which has a preferential tropism for CD4+ T lymphocytes, HTLV-II appears to preferentially infect CD8+ T lymphocytes. We intend to expand on these preliminary observations and propose the following studies. First we will carry out extensive nucleotide sequence analysis of selected gene regions of a large number of proviruses. This should allow a more detailed classification of the viruses, and perhaps the identification of additional subtypes. In parallel with this we will initiate studies to determine if the major subtypes may have phenotypic differences. It is also intended to confirm and extend our preliminary observations that the virus has a preferential -tropism for CD8+ T lymphocytes and we will investigate if infection may be associated with clonal expansion of certain CD8 populations. These studies should not only increase our understanding of the pathogenic properties of the virus, but will also provide a strong foundation for studying its role in human disease.