期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：1975
卷号：72
期号：7
页码：2804-2808
DOI：10.1073/pnas.72.7.2804
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：Particles with the density and enzymatic activity characteristic of known oncornavirus have been previously described in bone marrow cells from patients with leukemia in relapse and in remission. We have confirmed these findings and studied two patients in whom preleukemia was among the diagnostic considerations. Following cultivation of bone marrow from these patients for 1 week in conditioned media with dexamethasone, a high-speed pellet of the supernatant fluid and disrupted cells was prepared and analyzed on a sucrose gradient for enzymatic activity characteristic of RNA-directed DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase). Peaks of endogenous DNA polymerase activity showing ribonuclease sensitivity and/or stimulation with the synthetic template poly(rC)-(dG)12-18 were demonstrated in both patients at densities of 1.15 to 1.19 and 1.21 to 1.24 g/ml. Subsequently, diagnosis 2 and 4 months after initial evaluation revealed acute myelogenous leukemia and malignant histiocytosis, respectively. Prior studies have suggested a possible etiological significance of such particles in human leukemia. The demonstration of similar particles preceding clinically overt disease in these patients supports this hypothesis and offers the possibility of early diagnosis and treatment.
