HTLV-I ASSOCIATED ARTHRITIS - CHARACTERISTICS OF AN HTLV-I VIRUS-INFECTED T-CELL LINE FROM SYNOVIAL-FLUID

A T cell line from mononuclear cells in the synovial fluid of a patient with polyarthritis was established. The T cell line reacted with serum samples positive for antibodies to human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and with monoclonal antibody to HTLV-I p19. In Southern blotting with an env-pX-LTR HTLV-I probe and digestion of T cell line DNA with the restriction enzymes ClaI, DraI, and PstI generated fragments that were identical to those found in two HTLV-I infected T cell lines established from adult T cell leukaemia or HTLV-I associated myelopathy. The T cell line expressed CD2, CD3, CD4, CD45RA, CD29, HLA-DR, CD25, and CD26 antigens, but not CD8 and CD20 antigens. Large amounts of interleukin 6, interferon-gamma, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha were secreted in the culture supernatants of this cell fine. This line helped immunoglobulin production by B cells, but not K562, Raji, and synovial cell lysis.