title: Immunological features of HTLV-I myelopathy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in vitro effects of cyclosporin A.
abstract: Brazilian patients with HTLV-1 myelopathy present a significant spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation (SLP), and an increased response to IL-2 exogenous stimulation, in both peripheral blood lymphocytes and in whole blood proliferative assays, when compared to the control group. High antibody titers against HTLV-I antigens were also observed in comparison to healthy seropositive individuals. IL-6 was detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 50% of the patients (10 out of 20) and TNF-alpha in four out of nineteen individuals. No correlation was found between the presence of levels of cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha and duration or severity of disease. The addition of cyclosporin A (CsA) significantly inhibited SLP suggesting that this therapeutic agent should be studied in HTLV-1 myelopathy. Brazilian patients with HTLV-I myelopathy present the same immunological abnormalities described in other endemic regions. The whole blood assay reflects the same results of separated blood cells and, due to its rapid execution may be used as an assay to follow clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Cancer, Centro de Pesquisa Básica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Andrada-Serpa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schor
authors.forename: A Q
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rumjanek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D012016:Reference Values; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016572:Cyclosporine