Article
Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) proviral load induces activation of T-lymphocytes in asymptomatic carriers.
Registro en:
COUTINHO JUNIOR, R. et al. Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) proviral load induces activation of T-lymphocytes in asymptomatic carriers. BMC Infectious Diseases, v. 14, p. 53, 2014.
1471-2334
10.1186/1471-2334-14-453
Autor
Coutinho Junior, Raimundo
Grassi, Maria Fernanda Rios
Korngold, Ana Beatriz
Gallazzi, Viviana Nilla Olavarria
Castro Filho, Bernardo Galvão
Mascarenhas, Rita Elizabeth Moreira
Resumen
Background: High HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL) is mainly found in infected individuals with HTLV-1-associated
myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). However one third of asymptomatic carriers may have high PVL.
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PVL in the activation of T lymphocytes of asymptomatic individuals
infected with HTLV-1.
Methods: Membrane activation markers (CD25+, CD28+, CD45RO+, CD69+, CD62L+, HLA-DR+), FoxP3+ and intracellular
IFN-γ expression were evaluated on both CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes from asymptomatic carriers with PVL ≥
and < 1% of infected cells, using flow cytometry. HTLV-1 proviral load was determined using real-time PCR.
Results: Asymptomatic carriers with PVL ≥ 1% presented a higher frequency of CD4+CD25+CD45RO+ (13.2% vs. 4%,
p = 0.02), CD4+HLA-DR+ (18% vs. 8.3%, p = 0.01) and CD4+IFN-γ+ (4.5%; 1%, p = 0.01) T-cells, than healthy donors.
HTLV-1 PVL was directly correlated with the proportion of CD4+CD25+CD45RO+ T-cells (R = 0.7, p = 0.003). Moreover, a
significant increase in the proportion of CD4 + FoxP3+ T-cells was observed in HTLV-1-infected individuals, compared
to healthy donors.
Conclusion: HTLV-1 PVL is associated with activation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes in asymptomatic
individuals. Prospective studies should be conducted to evaluate whether asymptomatic individuals with higher PVL
and high immune activation are more prone to developing HTLV-1-associated diseases