HTLV-1 Hbz protein, but not hbz mRNA secondary structure, is critical for viral persistence and disease development
Fig 4
Hbz protein expression is critical for early in vivo viral persistence.
1 x 107 lethally irradiated 729.WT, 729.M3, 729.ΔHbz, 729.M3.ΔHbz, or 729.SAm producer cells were inoculated into 14-week-old, male NZW rabbits via the lateral ear vein. Whole blood was collected at Week 0 (pre-inoculation) and Weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 post-infection (study endpoint) for plasma and rPBMC isolation. (A) Genomic DNA was isolated from rPBMCs and proviral load was measured by qPCR using a primer and probe set specific to HTLV-1 gag/pol sequence. (B) Plasma was used to measure the HTLV-specific antibody response via the Avioq HTLV-I/II Microelisa System. Absorbances were measured at 450 nm. In each of the graphs, symbols represent the proviral load and antibody response for a single inoculated rabbit and bars represent the mean. Linear mixed-effects analyses were performed, and multiple comparisons were adjusted by Holm’s method. Asterisks represent significant differences compared to WT at the corresponding time point. *P ≤ 0.05. (Control n = 2, WT n = 6, M3 n = 6, ΔHbz n = 5, M3.ΔHbz n = 6, and SAm n = 6).