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B-lymphocytic hairy cells contain no HTLV-II DNA sequences
1Joint Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center.
Blood
|October 1, 1988
Summary
Human T-lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) was not detected in B-cell hairy-cell leukemia (HCL) patients. This suggests HTLV-II may not play a role in the development of this B-cell malignancy.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Oncology
- Hematology
Background:
- Human T-lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) is associated with rare T-cell leukemias.
- Hairy-cell leukemia (HCL) predominantly affects B-cells, but a rare T-cell variant exists.
- The role of HTLV-II in the more common B-cell form of HCL remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential involvement of HTLV-II in the pathogenesis of the B-cell form of HCL.
Main Methods:
- DNA was extracted from mononuclear cells of 16 patients diagnosed with B-cell HCL.
- Samples were obtained from spleen (8 cases) and peripheral blood (8 cases).
- The presence of HTLV-II sequences was assessed using DNA probing with high sensitivity.
Main Results:
- No HTLV-II viral sequences were detected in any of the 16 B-cell HCL patient samples.
- The detection limit was as low as one viral genome in five cells, indicating high sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- The findings do not support a role for HTLV-II in the development of the B-cell form of HCL.
- HTLV-II is unlikely to be an etiological factor in this specific leukemia subtype.