Exacerbated inflammatory cellular immune response characteristics of HAM/TSP is observed in a large proportion of HTLV-I asymptomatic carriers

摘要: Background: A small fraction of Human T cell Leukemia Virus type-1 (HTLV-I) infected subjects develop a severe form myelopathy. It has been established that patients with HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) show an exaggerated immune response when compared the immunological observed in asymptomatic carriers. In this study responses HAM/TSP and carriers were using several assays to identify markers progression from infection disease. Methods: Immunoproliferation assays, cytokine levels unstimulated cultures, flow cytometry analysis used evaluate studied groups. Nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney U test Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks) compare difference between Results: Although both groups showed great variability, had higher spontaneous lymphoproliferation as well IFN-γ supernatants Flow studies demonstrated high frequency inflammatory (IFN-γ TNF-α) producing lymphocytes group. This was accounted for mainly by increase CD8 production these cytokines. Moreover, also expressed increased CD28-/CD8+ cells. Since forty percent similar patients, measured eight months after first evaluation some observe if transient or persistent situation. No significant means second evaluation. Conclusions: The finding large proportion present those HAM/TSP, strongly argues further parameters progression.