title: HTLV-I, adult T-cell leukemia, and tropical spastic paraparesis.
abstract: Human lymphotropic retroviruses have been identified as the etiological agents of adult T-cell leukemia and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) has been linked to the etiology of ATL, and human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) has been identified as the cause of AIDS. Both retroviruses are T-cell tropic. HTLV-I is a transforming virus, whereas HIV-1 is a cytopathic virus and kills the cells it infects. HTLV-I has recently been identified from some patients with tropical spastic paraparesis, and it appears that HTLV-I infection alone or in the presence of other cofactors may be important in the development of this neurological dysfunction.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000276:immunology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000276:immunology*; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015480:Deltaretrovirus Antibodies