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Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1): Persistence and Immune Control

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Abstract

The human retrovirus human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is associated with two distinct types of disease: the malignancy known as adult T-cell leukemia and a range of chronic inflammatory conditions including the central nervous system disease HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Until recently, it was believed that HTLV-1 was largely latent in vivo. However, evidence from a number of types of experiments shows that HTLV-1 persistently expresses its genes, and that the “set point” of an individual’s proviral load of HTLV-1 is mainly determined by the efficiency of that individual’s cellular immune response to the virus.These conclusions have two main consequences. First, HTLV-1 may be vulnerable to antiretroviral drug therapy or immunotherapy. Second, HTLV-1 infection has become a useful system to analyze the determinants of the efficiency of the antiviral immune response. Society of Hematology

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  1. Department of Immunology, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College, W2 1PG, London, UK

    Charles R. M. Bangham

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Bangham, C.R.M. Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1): Persistence and Immune Control. Int J Hematol 78, 297–303 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02983553

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