title: Earlier onset of delta-retrovirus-induced leukemia after splenectomy.
abstract: Infection by delta-retroviruses such as human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is mostly asymptomatic. Indeed, only a minority (<5%) of delta-retrovirus infected hosts will develop either lymphoproliferative or neurodegenerative diseases after long latency periods. In fact, the host immune response is believed to tightly control viral replication but this assumption has not been definitely proven in vivo. Here, we provide direct experimental evidence demonstrating that integrity of the spleen is required to control pathogenesis. In the BLV model, we show that asplenia decreases efficiency of the immune response and induces an imbalance in cell dynamics resulting in accelerated onset of leukemia. These observations enlighten a potential threat in splenectomized HTLV-1 carriers and justify a regular preventive evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Gembloux Agricultural University (FUSAGX), Gembloux, Belgium. florins.a@fsagx.ac.be
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Florins
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reichert
authors.forename: Becca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Asquith
authors.forename: Amel-Baya
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bouzar
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jean
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: François
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jasik
authors.forename: Arsène
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burny
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kettmann
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Willems
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000818:Animals; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007107:Immune System; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology; D007700:Kinetics; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012756:Sheep; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine