The tax gene transcript of the size predicted was detected by RT-PCR in 20 IL-2-dependent and nine IL-2-independent non-leukemic T-cell lines infected with HTLV-1 established from 19 ATL patients, a patient with Sézary syndrome-like skin disease infected with HTLV-1 and a healthy carriers of HTLV-1 without exception (Figures 9A,C). This evidence concerns the gene IL2 and Sezary syndrome.