title: High production of RANTES and MIP-1alpha in the tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM).
abstract: Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is associated with progressive neurological disorders and tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM). The pathogenesis of TSP/HAM is considered as immune mediated, involving cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses to a number of viral proteins and notably the regulation protein Tax. T CD8+ cells produce beta-chemokines, which are important in the anti-viral response. In the present study, we have analyzed the CC chemokines (RANTES, MIP-1beta and MIP-1alpha) production in retrovirus-infected subjects. A total of 191 subjects were studied: 52 healthy controls, 72 asymptomatic HTLV-1-infected carriers and 67 TSP/HAM patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were maintained in the presence or absence of PHA, and supernatant fluids were assayed using EIA. MIP-1beta concentration was not significantly different across groups, but RANTES and MIP-1alpha concentrations showed significant differences when the three groups were compared. In TSP/HAM patients, the increase in the production of chemokines may lead to a recruitment of pro-inflammatory factors, contributing to the membrane's myelin damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sao Paulo University Medical School, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montanheiro
authors.forename: Maria Paulina Posada
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vergara
authors.forename: Jerusa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smid
authors.forename: Alberto José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: da Silva Duarte
authors.forename: Augusto César Penalva
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casseb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: C515429:CCL3 protein, human; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D019742:Chemokines, CC