Tumor necrosis factor alpha expression in the spinal cord of human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis patients.
HTLV-I Associated Myelopathy Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic degenerative disease mainly affecting the spinal cord. The pathogenesis of HAM/TSP is unknown, but is thought to involve immunopathogenic mechanisms. Several reports have detected inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in HAM/TSP patients. In this study, we used in situ hybridization (ISH) to examine the expression of TNF alpha RNA in spinal cord autopsy specimens from three chronic HAM/TSP patients with long-term disease (10-20 years duration). ISH identified many TNF alpha-expressing cells throughout all three patient's spinal cord tissues. Two patient's spinal cord tissue showed inflammatory cells, however double labeling by ISH for TNF alpha RNA with immunohisto-chemistry for CD45RO (a marker for memory T-cells) or CD-68 (a marker for microglia/macrophages) did not colocalize TNF alpha RNA with either CD45RO or CD-68 positive cells. Therefore, TNF alpha is expressed in the spinal cord of chronic HAM/TSP patients compared to normal controls and TNF alpha-expressing cells do not appear to be memory T-cells, microglia or macrophages.
Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
R J
RJ
Fox
M C
MC
Levin
S
S
Jacobson
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D015415:Biomarkers; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry; D017628:Microglia / Q000737:chemistry; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule