title: Clinical and immunological features of patients with atopy and concomitant HTLV-1 infection.
abstract: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) induces an exacerbated type 1 immune response characterized by high spontaneous IFN-γ and TNF-α production. Allergic rhinitis and asthma are associated with the type 2 immune response, with elevated secretion of IL-4 and IL-5. The aim of this study was to characterize the immune response in atopic HTLV-1 carriers. The cytokine profile of atopic HTLV-1 carriers (N = 10; all females) was compared with that of non-atopic HTLV-1 carriers (N = 14; 9 females and 5 males). Mean patient age of atopic and non-atopic groups was 45 ± 8 and 38 ± 11 years, respectively. All atopic HTLV-1 carriers had rhinitis with or without asthma and a skin prick test positive for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen 1 (Derp-1). There was no difference in cytokine levels between the two groups in unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures. In cultures stimulated with Derp-1, IFN-γ levels tended to be higher (P = 0.06) and IL-5 levels were higher (P = 0.02) in atopic HTLV-1 patients than in non-atopic subjects. In contrast, IL-10 was lower (P = 0.004) in atopic than in non-atopic HTLV-1-infected subjects. This study shows that HTLV-1 infection with an exaggerated type 1 immune response does not prevent atopy. In this case, the exacerbated type 1 and type 2 immune responses were due to a lack of IL-10 production, a cytokine that plays an important role in down-modulating type 1 and type 2 immune responses and in preventing the development of chronic inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Gaspar-Sobrinho
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Souza-Machado
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orge
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Lessa
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D016207:Cytokines