Document 0205
 DOCN  M9480205
 TI    Effect of p40tax trans-activator of human T cell lymphotropic virus type
       I on expression of autoantigens.
 DT    9410
 AU    Banki K; Ablonczy E; Nakamura M; Perl A; Department of Medicine, State
       University of New York, Syracuse; 13210.
 SO    AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1994 Mar;10(3):303-8. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/94289069
 AB    The possibility of a retroviral etiology has long been raised in a
       number of autoimmune disorders. More recently, Sjogren's syndrome and
       rheumatoid arthritis were noted in transgenic mice carrying the tax gene
       of human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I). To evaluate the
       involvement of HTLV-I Tax in autoimmunity, its effect on expression of
       autoantigens was investigated. A metallothionein promoter-driven p40tax
       expression plasmid, pMAXRHneo-1, was stably transfected into Molt4 and
       Jurkat cells and the p40tax protein was induced with CdCl2.
       trans-Activation or trans-repression of autoantigens by HTLV-I Tax was
       studied by Western blot analysis utilizing autoantigen-specific murine
       monoclonal and rabbit polyvalent antibodies as well as sera from 161
       autoimmune patients. Induction of p40tax of HTLV-I had no significant
       effect on levels of expression of common autoantigens U1 snRNP, Sm, Ro,
       La, HSP-70, topoisomerase I/Scl70, PCNA, and HRES-1. Expression of two
       potentially novel autoantigens, 44 and 46 kDa, was induced by p40tax as
       detected by sera of progressive systemic sclerosis patients, BAK and
       VAR. By contrast, expression of 24- and 34-kDa proteins was suppressed
       in response to induction of p40tax as detected by sera of systemic lupus
       erythematosus patients PUS and HOR. Because none of these patients were
       infected by HTLV-I, a protein functionally similar to p40tax may be
       involved in eliciting autoantigen expression and a subsequent
       autoantibody response in a minority of patients with PSS and SLE. Sera
       of autoimmune patients may also be utilized to detect novel proteins
       trans-activated or trans-repressed by p40tax of HTLV-I.
 DE    Autoantigens/*BIOSYNTHESIS  Autoimmunity  Blotting, Western  Cell Line
       Gene Products, tax/GENETICS/*IMMUNOLOGY  Human
       HTLV-I/GENETICS/*IMMUNOLOGY  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  Support, U.S.
       Gov't, P.H.S.  T-Lymphocytes/*IMMUNOLOGY  Trans-Activation (Genetics)
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).