title: The elevated interferon gamma production is an important immunological marker in HAM/TSP pathogenesis.
abstract: Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the agent of the HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), which may occur in >5% of patients during their lifetime. HTLV-1-infection causes disturbances in the immune system, and the viral load may also play an important role in the pathogenesis of HAM/TSP. Some cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder. We have determined IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 p70, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production among HTLV-1-infected subjects from our HTLV-out Clinic in Institute of Infectious 'Emílio Ribas' in Sao Paulo city, Brazil. PBMC obtained from healthy controls (n = 32), asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers (n = 68) and HAM/TSP patients (n = 44) were grown in the absence and in the presence of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and the supernatants' fluids were measured for cytokines production. IL-2 levels were increased in the asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers, and IFN-gamma was increased in both groups of patients (asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers and more significantly among HAM/TSP patients). IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha and IL-12 p70 levels were not significantly increased on both groups of patients, as compared with controls. The major finding of this study is that IFN-gamma was an important cytokine for the HAM/TSP pathogenesis. Therefore, immune modulation of IFN-gamma may be critical to treat of HAM/TSP patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Dermatologia e Imunodedeficiências, LIM-56, Departamento de Dermatologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Montanheiro
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Penalva de Oliveira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smid
authors.forename: L M I
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fukumori
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olah
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: da S Duarte
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casseb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma