Immunological studies on adult T cell leukaemia virus (ATLV) carriers.

Adult T cell leukaemia associated antibody (ATLA-Ab) positive people who were considered to be adult T cell leukaemia virus (ATLV) carriers were found in 0.75% of the adult population in the non-endemic area of Nagoya, Japan. Immunological studies on these people revealed that T lymphocyte subpopulations, as defined by nine monoclonal antibodies reactive to T lymphocyte surface antigens including T cell activation antigen, showed no differences between ATLA-Ab positive and ATLA-Ab negative individuals. Only a slightly higher percentage of Ia positive T lymphocytes was found in ATLA-Ab positive persons. Furthermore, the serum IgG level and the antibody titre of cytomegalovirus were significantly increased in ATLA-Ab positive individuals, while serum IgA, IgM level and the antibody titre of herpes simplex virus and mumps virus, showed no differences in both groups. This data suggests the possibility that ATLV carriers have some mild immunological abnormalities.