title: Association between HLA alleles and HAM/TSP in individuals infected with HTLV-1.
abstract: HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) develops in less than 5 % of HTLV-1 carriers. It is unclear which factors trigger the development of disease. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of HLA alleles on the development of HAM/TSP. A total of 40 HTLV-1-infected individuals belonging to the Spanish HTLV-1 cohort were examined. HTLV-1 proviral load was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. HLA class I (A, B, C) and class II (DRB1, DQB1) alleles were genotyped using the bead array technology. Median HTLV-1 proviral load in 12 HAM/TSP patients was greater than in 28 asymptomatic carriers (637 vs. 71 copies per 10(4) peripheral blood mononuclear cells; p = 0.006). Moreover, HAM/TSP was significantly associated with HLA-B 07 and HLA-DRB1 01:01 (p = 0.039). Interestingly, individuals with these HLA alleles had greater HTLV-1 proviral load than asymptomatic carriers (p = 0.036). In summary, HLA testing should be considered in asymptomatic HTLV-1 individuals and close monitoring of HTLV-1 proviral load along with periodic neurological evaluations should be prioritized in HLA-DRB1 01:01 and HLA-B 07 carriers.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Carlos III, 10 Calle Sinesio Delgado, 28029, Madrid, Spain, ana.trevino.rc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Treviño
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vicario
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ortiz de Lejarazu
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Romero
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Mendoza
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II