The human T-cell lines MT-2 and MT-4 carry the human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I). When MT-2 and MT-4 were infected with HTLV-III, the probable etiologic agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), rapid cytopathogenic effects and cytotoxicity were observed that made it possible to titrate the biologically active virus in a plaque-forming assay. The cytopathogenic effects were preceded by the rapid induction and increase of HTLV-III antigens as revealed by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation. Activities of HTLV-III were neutralized by the human antibodies against the virus when immunofluorescence and plaque assays were used. Essentially the same results were obtained with the lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV1).

We established long-term cell lines of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of a patient with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), an HTLV-I-carrier with Sjögren syndrome, and an asymptomatic HTLV-I-carrier, by repeated stimulation with autologous HTLV-I-infected T cells in vitro. CTL derived from the patient with HAM/TSP expressed CD8 antigen, and their function was restricted by HLA-A2. They showed cytotoxic effects predominantly against the target cells expressing HTLV-I p40tax among the autologous B cell lines infected with vaccinia recombinants containing various HTLV-I genes which served as targets. These data are consistent with the previously reported findings that fresh PBL of HAM/TSP patients contain p40tax-specific CTL activity. Furthermore, CTL derived from the patient with Sjögren syndrome without neurological involvement also demonstrated cytotoxicity predominantly to p40tax. The cytotoxicity to the target cells experimentally expressing p40tax was blocked by unlabeled HTLV-I-infected cells possessing HLA-A2. HTLV-I-specific cytotoxicity was also inhibited by unlabeled B cells bearing p40tax. Thus, HTLV-I p40tax-specific cytotoxicity is mediated by the major CTL population activated by native HTLV-I antigens in patients with HAM/TSP or Sjögren syndrome. In contrast to the CTL of these patients, CTL similarly induced from the asymptomatic HTLV-I-carrier, which were highly cytotoxic to autologous HTLV-I-infected T cells, did not show significant levels of cytotoxicity to autologous B cells expressing p40tax.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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A silver-mediated cross-coupling of trifluoromethoxide with aryl stannanes and arylboronic acids to give aryl trifluoromethyl ethers is reported. This is the first report of a transition-metal-mediated Caryl–OCF3 bond formation.

Fexofenadine HCl 60 mg twice daily demonstrated a rapid, significant improvement in the pruritus associated with atopic dermatitis, with a safety profile equivalent to that of placebo.