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Expression of oncornavirus antigens in peripheral leucocytes of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia
Abstract:
Peripheral leucocytes from 16 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) were examined for the presence of oncornavirus p30 antigens by indirect cytoplasmic immunofluorescence. The leucocytes of 12 patients who could be kept in balance by chemotherapy proved to be negative or contained the p30 antigen of mammalian endogenous oncornaviruses as the only viral antigen. In the leucocytes of four patients being in blastoid crisis, an antigen related to the p30 antigen of mammalian leukaemia-sarcoma viruses was detected. In five of six patients decrease in sensitivity to chemotherapy, or blastoid crisis, was preceded by expression of leukaemia-sarcoma virus p30 antigen(s). Leucocytes from 15 CML patients kept in balance by chemotherapy and those from seven being in blastoid crisis, were examined by indirect membrane immunofluorescence for the presence of antigen(s) related to the gp70 antigen of the simian and murine leukaemia-sarcoma virus. All tests proved to be negative.
Insights
Researchers investigated chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) cells for oncornavirus antigens. CML patients in blastoid crisis showed leukaemia-sarcoma virus p30 antigens, suggesting a potential link to disease progression and chemotherapy resistance.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm.
- The role of oncornaviruses in human leukaemias remains an area of investigation.
- Viral antigens may be associated with disease progression or treatment response in CML.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of oncornavirus p30 and gp70 antigens in peripheral leucocytes of CML patients.
- To determine if viral antigen expression correlates with disease status (chemotherapy-controlled vs. blastoid crisis) or chemotherapy sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Indirect cytoplasmic immunofluorescence was used to detect p30 antigens in leucocytes from 16 CML patients.
- Indirect membrane immunofluorescence was employed to detect gp70 antigens in leucocytes from 22 CML patients (15 controlled, 7 in blastoid crisis).
Main Results:
- p30 antigens related to mammalian endogenous oncornaviruses were found in CML patients controlled by chemotherapy.
- Antigens related to mammalian leukaemia-sarcoma virus p30 were detected in CML patients in blastoid crisis.
- Expression of leukaemia-sarcoma virus p30 antigen(s) preceded decreased chemotherapy sensitivity or blastoid crisis in 5 of 6 patients.
- No gp70 antigens related to simian or murine leukaemia-sarcoma viruses were detected in any patient group.
Conclusions:
- Leukaemia-sarcoma virus p30 antigen expression may be associated with the progression of CML to blastoid crisis.
- The findings suggest a potential role for specific oncornavirus antigens in CML pathogenesis and clinical course.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the significance of these viral antigens in CML.