Is MMTV associated with human breast cancer? Maybe, but probably not.

Background: Conflicting results regarding the association of MMTV with human breast cancer have been reported. Published sequence data have indicated unique MMTV strains in some human samples. However, concerns regarding contamination as a cause of false positive results have persisted.

Increased seroreactivity to human T cell lymphoma/leukemia virus-related endogenous sequence-1 Gag peptides in patients with human T cell lymphoma/leukemia virus myelopathy.

Previously, we had shown that although only 8% of patients with large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGLL) were infected with human T cell lymphoma/leukemia virus (HTLV)-2, almost half had antibodies to HTLV Gag and Env peptides. Herein, we investigated whether this could be due to cross-reactive antibodies to two homologous peptides in the Gag protein of the endogenous retrovirus HTLV-related endogenous sequence-1 (HRES-1). In addition, we had previously shown that patients with HTLV neurodegenerative diseases had increased seroreactivity to homologous HERV-K10 endogenous retrovirus peptides.

Increased seroreactivity to HERV-K10 peptides in patients with HTLV myelopathy.

Background: Previously, we had shown that persons infected with human T-cell lymphoma leukemia virus 1 or 2 (HTLV-1 or 2) had an increased prevalence of antibodies to a peptide in the Pol protein of the retrovirus HERV-K10, homologous to a peptide in HTLV gp21 envelope protein. The prevalence rate was higher in those with myelopathy vs. non-myelopathy.

Short communication: no evidence of HTLV-3 and HTLV-4 infection in New York State subjects at risk for retroviral infection.

The primate T-cell lymphoma viruses (PTLV) are divided into six distinct species. The biology and epidemiology of PTLV-1 and PTLV-2 are very well understood. However, that of PTLV-3, 4, 5, and 6 are not.

LGL leukemia and HTLV.

Samples were obtained from 53 large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGLL) patients and 10,000 volunteer blood donors (VBD). Sera were screened in an HTLV-1 enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and further analyzed in peptide-specific Western blots (WB). DNAs were analyzed by HTLV-1, -2, -3, and -4-specific PCR.