Human T cell lines established from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with human T lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy (HAM)

T cell lines were established from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocytes of two patients with human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy (HAM). These two interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent T cell lines have been cultured for more than 8 months without any accessory cells. The surface phenotype of these cells was CD2(+), CD4(+), CD8(-), Ia(+) and Tac(+). Southern blot hybridization analysis revealed the presence of HTLV-I provirus in these cells and C-type retrovirus particles were identified by electron microscopy. These findings indicate the presence of HTLV-I infected helper T lymphocytes in the CSF of the patients with HAM. These HTLV-I(+) T cell lines may be valuable for investigating the possible neutrotropism of HTLV-I and the role of HTLV-I in the pathogenesis of HAM.