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An In Vitro Model for Studying Cellular Transformation by Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus
Published on: August 25, 2017
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax and cellular transformation
Jean-Marie Peloponese1, Takao Kinjo, Kuan-Teh Jeang
1Molecular Virology Section, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0460, USA.
Abstract:
Infection of T-cells by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) causes a lymphoproliferative malignancy known as adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). ATL is characterized by abnormal lymphocytes, called flower cells, which have cleaved and convoluted nuclei. Tax, encoded by the HTLV-1 pX region, is a critical nonstructural protein that plays a central role in leukemogenesis; however, the mechanisms of HTLV-1 oncogenesis have not been clarified fully. In this review, we summarize current thinking on how Tax may affect ATL leukemogenesis.
