Journal of General Virology, Vol 78, 143-146, Copyright © 1997 by Society for General Microbiology
Infection of choroid plexus cells by human T cell leukaemia virus type I
L Coscoy, D Gonzalez-Dunia, M Brahic and S Ozden
Unite de Virus Lents, URA 1157 CNRS, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Very little is known about the factors that determine the outcome of
infection by human T cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I) and the
neurotropism of this virus is still a controversial point. In transgenic
mice, the HTLV-I LTR is active mainly in the central nervous system (CNS),
in parenchyma as well as in ependymal and choroid plexus cells. The latter
are of particular interest and could represent the way of entry of the
virus into the CNS. In this study we show that primary cultures of sheep
choroid plexus can be infected with HTLV-I, leading to characteristic
multinucleated syncytial cells containing virus RNA and proteins. HTLV-I
p24 Gag protein was detected in the culture medium and the presence of
virus particles was observed by electron microscopy 40 days after
infection. At this time post- infection HTLV-I could be transmitted to
human cord blood cells.
