Document 0393
 DOCN  M9610393
 TI    Elevated levels of iC3b and C4d, but not Bb, complement fragments from
       plasma of persons infected with human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV) with
       HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.
 DT    9601
 AU    Saarloos MN; Koenig RE; Spear GT; Department of Immunology/Microbiology,
       Rush Medical Center,; Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
 SO    J Infect Dis. 1995 Oct;172(4):1095-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96029382
 AB    Plasma levels of complement (C) fragments iC3b, C4d, and Bb from human T
       cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-positive subjects with HTLV-I-associated
       myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) were analyzed by
       EIA. Both iC3b and C4d levels were significantly elevated in persons
       with HAM/TSP. These levels were similar to those in patients with human
       immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who
       are known to have increased C fragments. Bb levels in persons with
       HAM/TSP wer unaffected, suggesting that C activation occurred only via
       the classical pathway. This differed from findings in HIV-infected or RA
       patients, who had elevated levels of Bb. The results showed an increase
       in C activation in persons with HAM/TSP and activation via the classical
       pathway, likely mediated by virus or immune complexes. It is possible
       that the C activation observed in these subjects contributed to the
       inflammatory pathogenesis of HAM/TSP.
 DE    Arthritis, Rheumatoid/BLOOD  Comparative Study  Complement 3b/*ANALYSIS
       Complement 4/*ANALYSIS  Human  HIV Infections/BLOOD  HTLV-BLV Infections
       HTLV-I Infections  Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/*BLOOD  Peptide
       Fragments/*ANALYSIS  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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