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Human CD4 Th1 and Th2 clones were infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and followed up for a 12 month period in culture. PCR analysis showed that proviral DNA and viral mRNA were present in both Th1 and Th2 infected clones, throughout the entire culture period. Thus, HTLV-I exhibited neither preferential tropism nor exerted differential immortalizing activity in Th1 versus Th2 cells. All the infected clones immediately lost their antigen dependency for growth and continuously proliferated in IL-2-conditioned medium without need for additional stimulation. Infected Th1 and Th2 clones equally showed high expression of CD25, HLA-DR, CD44, CD30 and CD45RO. Infection with HTLV-I altered the cytokine profile in Th1 and Th2 clones. Both types of clones produced IL-6 and TNF-α. Th1 infected clones retained their ability to secrete IFN-γ, but lost IL-2 gene expression. Th2 infected clones lost IL-4 gene expression, retained the ability to produce small amounts of IL-5 and acquired IFN-γ expression.
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