HTLV-1 and the host immune system: how the virus disrupts immune regulation, leading to HTLV-1 associated diseases.
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was the first retrovirus shown to cause human diseases, such as adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropic spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Despite extensive study for three decades, it remains elusive how HTLV-1 induces these diseases. HTLV-1 mainly infects CD4 T cells, inducing dysregulation of the host immune system. Recent studies have uncovered the mechanisms of differentiation and function of CD4 T cells at the cellular and molecular levels, extending our understanding of the pathological conditions associated with HTLV-1 infection. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the interaction between HTLV-1 and the host immune system, which should provide us a clue to the mechanisms of HTLV-1 mediated pathogenesis.
Satou
Yorifumi
Y
Laboratory of Virus Control, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University. ysatou@virus.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Matsuoka
Masao
M
D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology