Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Clinical Investigation logoLink to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
. 1995 Jun;95(6):2920–2925. doi: 10.1172/JCI117999

Association between maternal antibodies to the external envelope glycoprotein and vertical transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type I. Maternal anti-env antibodies correlate with protection in non-breast-fed children.

S Hino 1, S Katamine 1, T Miyamoto 1, H Doi 1, Y Tsuji 1, T Yamabe 1, J E Kaplan 1, D L Rudolph 1, R B Lal 1
PMCID: PMC295980  PMID: 7769134

Abstract

Vertical transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) depends primarily on breast-feeding; substitution of bottle-feeding has reduced the transmission rate from 20% in breast-fed children to 3% among bottle-fed. To determine the correlates of transmission for long breast-feeding (> or = 6 mo), short breast-feeding (< 6 mo), and bottle-feeding mothers, the antibody titers of transmitter (T) mothers and non-transmitter (nT) mothers were analyzed by using synthetic and recombinant epitopes representing the immunodominant epitopes of gag (Gag1a, r24), env (Env1/5, MTA1, RE3), and tax (Tax8/22-24) proteins. Seroreactivity to gag and tax epitopes was not significantly different except for anti-r24 antibody titer, which was significantly higher among T-mothers (geometric mean 134) when compared with nT-mothers (62) in the long-feeding group (P < 0.001). Profiles of antibody titers against env epitopes were different. Within the long-feeding group, Env1/5, MTA1, and RE3 titers were significantly higher among T-mothers (258, 1,476, and 738, respectively) when compared with nT-mothers (106, 279, and 320, respectively) (P < 0.01 for all three epitopes). In contrast, within the bottle-feeding group, antibody titers to Env1/5 (269) and RE3 (418) among nT-mothers were significantly higher than those among T-mothers (80 and 113, respectively) (P < 0.01). These data confirm that high-titered anti-HTLV-I antibodies in the long-feeding group correlate with milk-borne transmission of HTLV-I and, more importantly, imply that maternal anti-env antibodies may reduce the risk of non-milkborne infection.

Full text

PDF
2920

Images in this article

2923Image
on p.2923

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ando Y., Nakano S., Saito K., Shimamoto I., Ichijo M., Toyama T., Hinuma Y. Transmission of adult T-cell leukemia retrovirus (HTLV-I) from mother to child: comparison of bottle- with breast-fed babies. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1987 Apr;78(4):322–324. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Buckner C., Roberts C. R., Foung S. K., Lipka J., Reyes G. R., Hadlock K., Chan L., Gongora-Biachi R. A., Hjelle B., Lal R. B. Immune responsiveness to the immunodominant recombinant envelope epitopes of human T lymphotropic virus types I and II in diverse geographic populations. J Infect Dis. 1992 Nov;166(5):1160–1163. doi: 10.1093/infdis/166.5.1160. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Gessain A., Boeri E., Yanagihara R., Gallo R. C., Franchini G. Complete nucleotide sequence of a highly divergent human T-cell leukemia (lymphotropic) virus type I (HTLV-I) variant from melanesia: genetic and phylogenetic relationship to HTLV-I strains from other geographical regions. J Virol. 1993 Feb;67(2):1015–1023. doi: 10.1128/jvi.67.2.1015-1023.1993. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Hartley T. M., Malone G. E., Khabbaz R. F., Lal R. B., Kaplan J. E. Evaluation of a recombinant human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) p21E antibody detection enzyme immunoassay as a supplementary test in HTLV-I/II antibody testing algorithms. J Clin Microbiol. 1991 Jun;29(6):1125–1127. doi: 10.1128/jcm.29.6.1125-1127.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hino S., Doi H., Yoshikuni H., Sugiyama H., Ishimaru T., Yamabe T., Tsuji Y., Miyamoto T. HTLV-I carrier mothers with high-titer antibody are at high risk as a source of infection. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1987 Nov;78(11):1156–1158. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hino S., Sugiyama H., Doi H., Ishimaru T., Yamabe T., Tsuji Y., Miyamoto T. Breaking the cycle of HTLV-I transmission via carrier mothers' milk. Lancet. 1987 Jul 18;2(8551):158–159. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(87)92358-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hino S., Yamaguchi K., Katamine S., Sugiyama H., Amagasaki T., Kinoshita K., Yoshida Y., Doi H., Tsuji Y., Miyamoto T. Mother-to-child transmission of human T-cell leukemia virus type-I. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1985 Jun;76(6):474–480. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Höllsberg P., Hafler D. A. Seminars in medicine of the Beth Israel Hospital, Boston. Pathogenesis of diseases induced by human lymphotropic virus type I infection. N Engl J Med. 1993 Apr 22;328(16):1173–1182. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199304223281608. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Ishihara S., Okayama A., Stuver S., Horinouchi H., Shioiri S., Murai K., Kubota T., Yamashita R., Tachibana N., Tsubouchi H. Association of HTLV-I antibody profile of asymptomatic carriers with proviral DNA levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 1994 Feb;7(2):199–203. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Jacobson S., Reuben J. S., Streilein R. D., Palker T. J. Induction of CD4+, human T lymphotropic virus type-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes from patients with HAM/TSP. Recognition of an immunogenic region of the gp46 envelope glycoprotein of human T lymphotropic virus type-1. J Immunol. 1991 Feb 15;146(4):1155–1162. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kashiwagi S., Kajiyama W., Hayashi J., Noguchi A., Nakashima K., Nomura H., Ikematsu H., Sawada T., Kida S., Koide A. Antibody to p40tax protein of human T cell leukemia virus 1 and infectivity. J Infect Dis. 1990 Mar;161(3):426–429. doi: 10.1093/infdis/161.3.426. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Kawase K., Katamine S., Moriuchi R., Miyamoto T., Kubota K., Igarashi H., Doi H., Tsuji Y., Yamabe T., Hino S. Maternal transmission of HTLV-1 other than through breast milk: discrepancy between the polymerase chain reaction positivity of cord blood samples for HTLV-1 and the subsequent seropositivity of individuals. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1992 Sep;83(9):968–977. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1992.tb02009.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kinoshita K., Amagasaki T., Hino S., Doi H., Yamanouchi K., Ban N., Momita S., Ikeda S., Kamihira S., Ichimaru M. Milk-borne transmission of HTLV-I from carrier mothers to their children. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1987 Jul;78(7):674–680. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kinoshita K., Yamanouchi K., Ikeda S., Momita S., Amagasaki T., Soda H., Ichimaru M., Moriuchi R., Katamine S., Miyamoto T. Oral infection of a common marmoset with human T-cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-I) by inoculating fresh human milk of HTLV-I carrier mothers. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1985 Dec;76(12):1147–1153. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Kuroki M., Nakamura M., Itoyama Y., Tanaka Y., Shiraki H., Baba E., Esaki T., Tatsumoto T., Nagafuchi S., Nakano S. Identification of new epitopes recognized by human monoclonal antibodies with neutralizing and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activities specific for human T cell leukemia virus type 1. J Immunol. 1992 Aug 1;149(3):940–948. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Kusuhara K., Sonoda S., Takahashi K., Tokugawa K., Fukushige J., Ueda K. Mother-to-child transmission of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I): a fifteen-year follow-up study in Okinawa, Japan. Int J Cancer. 1987 Dec 15;40(6):755–757. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910400607. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Lal R. B., Rudolph D. L., Griffis K. P., Kitamura K., Honda M., Coligan J. E., Folks T. M. Characterization of immunodominant epitopes of gag and pol gene-encoded proteins of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I. J Virol. 1991 Apr;65(4):1870–1876. doi: 10.1128/jvi.65.4.1870-1876.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Maeda Y., Imai J., Kiyokawa H., Kanamura M., Hino S. Performance certification of gelatin particle agglutination assay for anti-HTLV-1 antibody: inconclusive positive results. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1989 Oct;80(10):915–919. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1989.tb01625.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Nagamine M., Nakashima Y., Uemura S., Takei H., Toda T., Maehama T., Nakachi H., Nakayama M. DNA amplification of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) proviral DNA in breast milk of HTLV-I carriers. J Infect Dis. 1991 Nov;164(5):1024–1025. doi: 10.1093/infdis/164.5.1024. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Rudolph D. L., Coligan J. E., Lal R. B. Detection of antibodies to trans-activator protein (p40taxI) of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I by a synthetic peptide-based assay. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 1994 Mar;1(2):176–181. doi: 10.1128/cdli.1.2.176-181.1994. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Rudolph D. L., Khabbaz R. F., Folks T. M., Lal R. B. Detection of human T-lymphotropic virus type-I/II env antibodies by immunoassays using recombinant fusion proteins. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 1993 Jul;17(1):35–39. doi: 10.1016/0732-8893(93)90067-h. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Rudolph D. L., Lal R. B. Discrimination of human T-lymphotropic virus type-I and type-II infections by synthetic peptides representing structural epitopes from the envelope glycoproteins. Clin Chem. 1993 Feb;39(2):288–292. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Sawada T., Iwahara Y., Ishii K., Taguchi H., Hoshino H., Miyoshi I. Immunoglobulin prophylaxis against milkborne transmission of human T cell leukemia virus type I in rabbits. J Infect Dis. 1991 Dec;164(6):1193–1196. doi: 10.1093/infdis/164.6.1193. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Sawada T., Tohmatsu J., Obara T., Koide A., Kamihira S., Ichimaru M., Kashiwagi S., Kajiyama W., Matsumura N., Kinoshita K. High risk of mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-I in p40tax antibody-positive mothers. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1989 Jun;80(6):506–508. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1989.tb01667.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Sugiyama H., Doi H., Yamaguchi K., Tsuji Y., Miyamoto T., Hino S. Significance of postnatal mother-to-child transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type-I on the development of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. J Med Virol. 1986 Nov;20(3):253–260. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890200307. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Takahashi K., Takezaki T., Oki T., Kawakami K., Yashiki S., Fujiyoshi T., Usuku K., Mueller N., Osame M., Miyata K. Inhibitory effect of maternal antibody on mother-to-child transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type I. The Mother-to-Child Transmission Study Group. Int J Cancer. 1991 Nov 11;49(5):673–677. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910490508. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Tanaka Y., Zeng L., Shiraki H., Shida H., Tozawa H. Identification of a neutralization epitope on the envelope gp46 antigen of human T cell leukemia virus type I and induction of neutralizing antibody by peptide immunization. J Immunol. 1991 Jul 1;147(1):354–360. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Wiktor S. Z., Pate E. J., Murphy E. L., Palker T. J., Champegnie E., Ramlal A., Cranston B., Hanchard B., Blattner W. A. Mother-to-child transmission of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in Jamaica: association with antibodies to envelope glycoprotein (gp46) epitopes. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 1993 Oct;6(10):1162–1167. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Yamaguchi K. Human T-lymphotropic virus type I in Japan. Lancet. 1994 Jan 22;343(8891):213–216. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)90994-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Zacharopoulos V. R., Perotti M. E., Phillips D. M. Lymphocyte-facilitated infection of epithelia by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I. J Virol. 1992 Jul;66(7):4601–4605. doi: 10.1128/jvi.66.7.4601-4605.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Investigation are provided here courtesy of American Society for Clinical Investigation

RESOURCES