Human T cell leukemia virus Type I (HTLV-I) infection induces greater expansions of CD8 T lymphocytes in persons with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis than in asymptomatic carriers.
A quantitative study of the T cell receptor repertoire was performed ex vivo on CD4 and CD8 T cell subsets of human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-infected asymptomatic carriers and patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Indexes of oligoclonality that compiled all repertoire modifications were calculated for peripheral blood mononuclear cells and for CD4 and CD8 T cell subsets. Both patients with HAM/TSP and asymptomatic carriers had greater T lymphocyte expansions than did uninfected donors, which was independent of age and at least twice higher in the CD8 than in the CD4 cell compartment. Some expanded CD8 T cells corresponded to cytotoxic T lymphocytes directed against various epitopes of the immunodominant Tax protein. Patients with HAM/TSP had significantly higher CD8 cell expansions than did asymptomatic carriers. These results highlight the prognostic value of measuring CD8 T cell expansions during follow-up of HTLV-I infection.
Unité d'Immunité Cellulaire Antivirale, Paris, France.
A
A
Ureta-Vidal
C
C
Pique
Z
Z
Garcia
A
A
Dehée
P
P
Tortevoye
N
N
Désiré
A
A
Gessain
B
B
Chancerel
O
O
Gout
F A
FA
Lemonnier
M
M
Cochet
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D016356:Gene Products, tax / Q000276:immunology; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load
D016356:Gene Products, tax; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell