Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) DNA proviral load quantification and immunological markets among healthy carries HTLV-1- associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP/HAM) patients.

Author(s)

Patricia Aparecida Montanheiro

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2007-12-11

Examining board members

Jorge Simão do Rosário Casseb; Patricia Correia Rodrigues Novôa; Augusto César Penalva de Oliveira; Ester Cerdeira Sabino; Jorge Timenetsky

• Advisor: Jorge Simão do Rosário Casseb

Abstract

In São Paulo, about 50 thousand people are HTLV-1 carriers. HTLV-1 is the agent that causes tropical spastic paraparesis and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) despite the mechanisms of this disease are still unclear. TSP/HAM is considered an immune mediated illness and some cytokines might be involved with axonal damage and demyelination, most pronounced in the midthoracic spinal cord, probably stimulated by the presence of viral antigens. Real Time PCR is a used technique to cytokine detection and shows higher sensitivity on mRNA expression and HTLV-1 proviral load. Objectives: cytokine detection through molecular biology (Real time PCR) and serologic techniques that helped on advising and assessment of HTLV-1 infected patients and also on their proviral load. Casuistic: Group I: seronegative individuals for HCV, HIV-1 and HTLV-1 (control); Group II: asymptomatic HTLV-1 infected patients; Group III: TSP/HAM patients. We\'ve been observed that <font face=\"symbol\">g-interferon presents changing on the HTLV-1 infection, being one of the most important factors to TSP/HAM progression, both essays showed the same results. The proviral load may be an important marker for TSP/HAM development. (AU)