Neuroimmunity of HTLV-I Infection.
Human T-lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I) is an oncogenic retrovirus and its infection is associated with a variety of human diseases including HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropic spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Large numbers of epidemiological, virological, immunological, and clinical studies on HTLV-I- and HTLV-I-associated diseases have been published, although the pathogenesis of HAM/TSP remains to be fully understood. In the last several years, researchers have shown that several key factors are important in HTLV-I-associated neurologic disease including high HTLV-I proviral load and a strong immune response to HTLV-I. Here, we review pathophysiological findings on HAM/TSP and focus on viral-host immune responses to the virus in HTLV-I infected individuals. In particular, the role of HTLV-I-specific CD8+ T cell response is highlighted.
Matsuura
Eiji
E
Viral Immunology Section, Neuroimmunology Branch, NIH, Building 10, Room 5C-103, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. eiji.matsuura@gmail.com
Yamano
Yoshihisa
Y
Jacobson
Steven
S
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000276:immunology*; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000276:immunology; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D019562:Viral Load / Q000276:immunology; D016662:Virus Integration / Q000502:physiology