Psychobehavioral and immunological characteristics of HTLV-1 carriers and non-carriers with persistently low natural killer cell activity.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the differences in immunological and psychobehavioral characteristics of HTLV-1 carriers and non-carriers with persistently low natural killer (NK) cell activity.


METHODS
The individuals with persistently low NK cell activity were divided into HTLV-1 carriers and non-carriers. NK cell activity, lymphocytic proliferation, lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD20+, CD56+), and psychobehavioral responses were examined.


METHODS
Of 296 outpatients with physical complaints, 30 patients with persistently low NK cell activity (10 HTLV-1 carriers and 20 HTLV-1 non-carriers) and 20 healthy controls negative for HTLV-1 antibody and with normal NK cell activity were randomly selected.


RESULTS
In HTLV-1 carriers with persistently low NK cell activity, no significant differences were observed in NK cell subsets (CD16+ and CD56+) and psychobehavioral responses compared with the healthy controls. In HTLV-1 non-carriers, NK cell subsets were significantly low, and depression, anxiety and fatigue were significantly greater than in healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that persistently e low NK cell activity in HTLV-1 carriers might be reduced due to the HTLV-1 infection. On the other hand, the reduction in the NK cell activity in HTLV-1 non-carriers appears a to be related to depression, anxiety, and fatigue.
Masuda
A
A
First Department of Internal Medicine, Kagoshima University.
Matsuyama
T
T
Yokoyama
M M
MM
Nozoe
S
S
Tei
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged