title: Correlation between clinical symptoms and peripheral immune response in HAM/TSP.
abstract: HTLV-1 infects principally CD4+ T cells that are the main reservoirs of the virus in vivo, which play an important role in the immunological response. Most of the infected patients are asymptomatic. However, 2-3% of patients will develop HAM/TSP or Adult T lymphoma. HAM/TSP is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, which is characterized by unremitting myelopathic symptoms. Studies have shown that cytokines levels alterations (IFN-γ and TNF-α) were associated with tissue injury in HAM/TSP. The aims of this study were to compare the gene expression of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 of asymptomatic and HAM/TSP HTLV-1 infected patients, and to correlate the gene expression with those of clinical symptoms. 28 subjects were included, 20 asymptomatic HTLV-1 and 8 with HAM/TSP. Spasticity was evaluated using the Modified Ashworth Scale and the degree of walking aid was classified on a progressive scale. The relative gene expression of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 was measured by Real-Time PCR. Results showed high gene expression of IFN-γ for all patients, but it was higher among HAM/TSP. A significant correlation was observed between IFN-γ gene expression and the degree of walking aid, and IFN-γ gene expression was higher among wheelchair users compared to non-wheelchair users. No association was found with IL-4 and IL-10. These findings indicate that HAM/TSP patients express higher amounts of IFN-γ than asymptomatic patients, and more importantly, the expression of this cytokine was strongly correlated with the need of walking aid.
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Laboratory of the Center of Tropical Medicine, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: George Alberto
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: da Silva Dias
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Laboratory of the Center of Tropical Medicine, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita Catarina Medeiros
authors.initials: RCM
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia Figueiredo
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cezar Augusto Muniz
authors.initials: CAM
authors.lastname: Caldas
authors.affiliation: Institute of International Health, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nassiri
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Laboratory of the Center of Tropical Medicine, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juarez Antônio Simões
authors.initials: JAS
authors.lastname: Quaresma
authors.affiliation: Immunopathology Laboratory of the Center of Tropical Medicine, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil. Electronic address: hellen@ufpa.br.
authors.forename: Hellen Thais
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Fuzii
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: HAM/TSP; HTLV-1; Immune response; Walking aids; spasticity