Detection of sequences homologous to human retroviral DNA in multiple sclerosis by gene amplification

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.86.8.2878· OSTI ID:5300406

Greenberg, S J; Ehrlich, G D; Abbott, M A; Hurwitz, B J; Waldmann, T A; Poiesz, B J ^[1]

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1. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (USA)

Twenty-one patients with multiple sclerosis, chronic progressive type, were examined for DNA sequences homologous to a human retrovirus. Genomic DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells was analyzed for the presence of homologous sequences to the human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I) long terminal repeat, 3{prime} gag, pol, and env domains by the enzymatic in vitro gene amplification technique, polymerase chain reaction. Positive identification of homologous pol sequences was made in the amplified DNA from six of these patients (29%). Three of these six patients (14%) also tested positive for the env region, but not for the other regions tested. In contrast, none of the samples from 35 normal individuals studied was positive when amplified and tested with the same primers and probes. Comparison of patterns obtained from controls and from patients with adult T-cell leukemia or tropical spastic paraparesis suggests that the DNA sequences identified are exogenous to the human genome and may correspond to a human retroviral species. The data support the detection of a human retroviral agent in some patients with multiple sclerosis.

• OSTI ID: 5300406
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA), Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA) Vol. 86:8; ISSN 0027-8424; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL CELLS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISEASES
DNA
DNA SEQUENCING
ETIOLOGY
GENE AMPLIFICATION
HEMIC DISEASES
HEREDITARY DISEASES
IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES
ISOTOPES
LEUKEMIA
LIGHT NUCLEI
MICROORGANISMS
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEI
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PATIENTS
PHOSPHORUS 32
PHOSPHORUS ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
TUMOR CELLS
VIRUSES