Fig. 4.

Relative interleukin (IL)-4 mRNA expression in the healthy controls, human T lymphotropic virus-type 1 (HTLV-1) carriers and infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 (IDH) patients (a). Total RNA from unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells was extracted, reverse-transcribed and the cDNA amplified. The polymerase chain reaction products were visualized in 1·3% agarose gel staining with 0·2% of ethidium bromide. The band intensity was calculated using Quantity One Software version 4.6.3 (Basic). Results were expressed as relative units (RU) corrected for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT). Total immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody titres in sera from HTLV-1 carriers and infective dermatitis patients (b). The data are shown in KU/ml. Twelve IDH patients (57%) and seven (43%) HTLV-1 carriers had elevated IgE antibody titres. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann–Whitney U-test.