Detection of HTLV-1 proviral DNA in sarcoidosis

CH Koga, MD, A Yajima, MD, A Kawada, MD & PhD, Y Aragane, MD & PhD, T Tezuka, MD & PhD

AIM: We recently experienced systemic sarcoidosis with serum anti-human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-1. To address whether HTLV-1 contributes to pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, we analyzed this case. METHODS: Cutaneous sarcoid nodules and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analyzed for the proviral integration by PCR. Furthermore, those were applied to Southern blotting using cDNA encoding C-region of TCR beta1-chain (TCR-Cbeta1). To determine the expression of the viral protein, immunostaining was performed using anti-Px protein of HTLV-1. RESULTS: Integration of the proviral DNA was only monitored in cutaneous sarcoid nodules. The infection in PBMC was excluded by no monoclonal TCR-Cbeta1 rearrangement. Immunostaining revealed the presence of a few giant cells in the nodule positive for Px. CONCLUSIONS: In this case, detection of the integration of HTLV-1 proviral DNA suggests that skin may be the first tissue of the infection and implies that cutaneous sarcoidosis might be a protective response to HTLV-1.

KEY WORDS: sarcoidosis, pathogenesis.

For more information, contact nori@med.kindai.ac.jp

Paper presented at the International Symposium on Predictive Oncology and Intervention Strategies; Paris, France; February 9 - 12, 2002; in the section on Viral Oncogenesis.

http://www.cancerprev.org/Journal/Issues/26/101/996/4350