title: Increased expression of HBZ and Foxp3 mRNA in bronchoalveolar lavage cells taken from human T-lymphotropic virus type 1-associated lung disorder patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), and is associated with chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory pulmonary diseases. HTLV-I bZIP factor (HBZ), which is expressed in all adult T-cell leukemia cells, plays a critical role in the development of lymphoma and systemic inflammation. HTLV-I is harbored by CD4(+) T cells that express forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), and HBZ interacts with Foxp3. This study investigated the chest computed tomography (CT) findings and expression of HBZ and Foxp3 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from patients with HTLV-I-associated lung disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT scans obtained from 37 patients (10 men and 27 women, aged 37-77 years) with HTLV-I-associated lung disorders were retrospectively evaluated. The expression levels of HBZ and Foxp3 mRNA in BAL cells and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the BAL fluid (BALF) from patients were compared with those in control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CT scans frequently revealed a diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB)-like pattern, along with a nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) pattern. An analysis of the BALF revealed lymphocytosis and increased expression of HBZ mRNA in patients with HTLV-I-associated lung disorders. The expression of Foxp3 mRNA positively correlated with the percentages of lymphocytes present in the BALF. The inflammatory cytokine and IL-10 levels were significantly increased in the BALF from patients with HTLV-I-associated lung disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NSIP pattern may be a manifestation of pulmonary involvement in HTLV-I-infected patients, as is the DPB-like pattern. HBZ and Foxp3 likely have a role in the development of lung inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Yoriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamazato
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamayose
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Atsumi
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yara
authors.forename: Futoshi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tateyama
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D016355:Genes, pX; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D016207:Cytokines; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C479751:HBZ protein, human T-cell leukemia virus type I; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins