The main HTLV-I-harboring cells in the muscles of viral carriers with polymyositis are not macrophages but CD4+ lymphocytes.

We have analyzed muscle biopsy specimens from polymyositis patients who are also positive for human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) using both immunohistochemistry for surface antigens of lymphocytes and macrophages and in situ polymerase chain reaction for HTLV-I proviral DNA on the same sections. We found HTLV-I in CD4+ cells but not in macrophages. This finding suggests that most of the HTLV-I-containing CD4+ cells are not macrophages but lymphocytes.