Immunopathogensis of HTLV-I associated neurologic disease: molecular, histopathologic, and immunologic approaches.
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection is associated with a variety of human diseases including HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), a chronic progressive inflammatory neurological disease. An important risk factor for the development of HAM/TSP is thought to be a high HTLV-I proviral load. Histopathological studies have demonstrated the presence of HTLV-I virus in the affected areas of spinal cords from HAM/TSP patients. Furthermore, T-cell infiltrations have been shown in spinal cord lesions. The precise mechanism for disease development is still unknown. Virus-host immune interactions are considered to play an important role in disease pathogenesis. This review focuses on current molecular, histopathological, and immunological approaches to understand the immunopathogenesis of HAM/TSP.
Takenouchi
Norihiro
N
Viral Immunology Section, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders, Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Maryland 20892, USA.
Yao
Karen
K
Jacobson
Steven
S
D000486:Allergy and Immunology; D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000821:virology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D019562:Viral Load
D016207:Cytokines