Oncornavirus-like protein expression in human prostatic tissue.

A sensitive competition radioimmunoassay using 125 I-labelled p 30 interspecies antigen, antiserum specific to the interspecies antigen of the feline leukaemia virus, and aqueous tissue extracts from prostate was used to examine benign hyperplastic prostates for the presence of protein components able to complete with the interspecies viral antigens. Six of 20 prostatic nodular hyperplastic tissues were competitive in radioimmunoassay with the 125 I-labelled viral antigen for binding sites on the antiviral antibodies. These findings suggest the presence of oncornavirus-like proteins in prostatic nodular hyperplasia. No correlation could be made between the presence of competing protein and histological features of acute or chronic prostatitis and squamous metaplasia.