Figure 4.

HTLV-1 enhancer element alters in vivo sense and anti-sense viral gene expression. RNA was isolated from rPBMCs for cDNA synthesis. cDNA from rabbit samples and negative controls was used in 12-cycle pre-amplification reactions. Pre-amplification products were diluted according to the manufacturer’s directions for qPCR to detect viral gene expression. Copy numbers of Gag/pol (A) and Hbz (C) are shown relative to 1 x 10⁶ rgapdh copies. The levels of viral transcripts were evaluated by normalizing Gag/pol (B) or Hbz (D) copies per 10⁶ rgapdh to proviral load. In each of the graphs, unique symbols represent gene expression for a single inoculated rabbit over time and bars represent the mean. Linear mixed-effects analyses were performed and multiple comparisons were adjusted by Tukey’s method. *P ≤ 0.05.