Analysis of platelets from patients with thrombocythemia for reverse transcriptase and virus-like particles.

A preliminary analysis of an RNA-directed DNA polymerase was made and a C-type virus-like particle was identified in platelets from 2 patients with the myeloproliferative disorder thrombocythemia (primary, essential, hemorrhagic, or idiopathic thrombocythemia). Platelet homogenates were centrifuged through a sucrose equilibrium density gradient. Both endogenous and exogenous DNA polymerase activity was found at a density of 1.19 g/ml. No activity was seen at comparable densities in control gradients. Electron micrographs of thin sections of these platelets revealed a particle with the morphologic characteristics of a C-type virus; however, the diameter of this particle was about 80 nm, slightly lower than that commonly found for C-type particles. Critical-point dried specimens, from the fractions of the sucrose gradient at which DNA polymerase activity was found, contained particles of the same size and morphology as those in the thin sections.