Analysis of the expression directed by two HTLV-I promoters in transgenic mice

We generated several lines of mice transgenic for the lacZ reporter gene under the control of an HTLV-I LTR. Two different LTR were used; one was isolated from a case of Adult T-cell Leukemia (ATL), the other from a case of Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (TSP/HAM). These LTR differed at 18 nucleotide positions. The pattern of expression of the transgene, studied at the RNA level by RTPCR, was the same regardless of the origin of the promoter. The β-galactosidase activity was detected primarily in the central nervous system, in the parenchyma, the choroid plexus and the ependymal cells along the ventricles. In parenchyma, double labelling experiments showed that the cells expressing β-galactosidase were neurons. These results show that choroid plexus cells and ependymal cells, as well as some neurons, are permissive for the activity of the HTLV-I promoter. The origin of the LTR had no influence on the pattern of expression of the reporter gene.