DETECTION OF RETROVIRUS PARTICLES AND REVERSE-TRANSCRIPTASE ACTIVITY IN MIDTERM CULTURED PERIPHERAL-BLOOD AND LYMPH-NODE CELLS FROM A FRENCH WOMAN WITH SEZARY-SYNDROME

  • 1 January 1989
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (5) , 333-337
Abstract
Retrovirus particles, with an ultrastructure of type C-virus similar to HTLV-1 were observed in several mid-term cultures of leukemic cells derived from a woman with a well characterised Sezary syndrome who had always resided in France. Reverse transcriptase activity was detected in supernatant fluids from day 6 to day 40 of culture. However, negative anti HTLV-1 serology and the absence of specific molecular hybridization between leukemic cell DNA and two HTLV-1 derived probes, argue against a HTLV-1 virus.