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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Lower numbers of circulating natural killer T (NK T) cells in individuals with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) associated neurological disease

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Author(s):
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Ndhlovu, L. C. [1] ; Snyder-Cappione, J. E. [1] ; Carvalho, K. I. [2] ; Leal, F. E. [2] ; Loo, C. P. [1] ; Bruno, F. R. [2] ; Jha, A. R. [1] ; Devita, D. ; Hasenkrug, A. M. [1] ; Barbosa, H. M. R. [3] ; Segurado, A. C. [4] ; Nixon, D. F. [1] ; Murphy, E. L. [5, 6] ; Kallas, E. G. [2, 3]
Total Authors: 14
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Calif San Francisco, Dept Med, Div Expt Med, San Francisco, CA 94110 - USA
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Div Clin Immunol & Allergy, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Div Infect Dis, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Infect Dis, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[5] Blood Syst Res Inst, San Francisco, CA - USA
[6] Univ Calif San Francisco, Dept Lab Med, San Francisco, CA 94110 - USA
Total Affiliations: 6
Document type: Journal article
Source: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY; v. 158, n. 3, p. 294-299, DEC 2009.
Web of Science Citations: 10
Abstract

Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infects 10-20 million people worldwide. The majority of infected individuals are asymptomatic; however, approximately 3% develop the debilitating neurological disease HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). There is also currently no cure, vaccine or effective therapy for HTLV-1 infection, and the mechanisms for progression to HAM/TSP remain unclear. NK T cells are an immunoregulatory T cell subset whose frequencies and effector functions are associated critically with immunity against infectious diseases. We hypothesized that NK T cells are associated with HAM/TSP progression. We measured NK T cell frequencies and absolute numbers in individuals with HAM/TSP infection from two cohorts on two continents: Sao Paulo, Brazil and San Francisco, CA, USA, and found significantly lower levels when compared with healthy subjects and/or asymptomatic carriers. Also, the circulating NK T cell compartment in HAM/TSP subjects is comprised of significantly more CD4(+) and fewer CD8(+) cells than healthy controls. These findings suggest that lower numbers of circulating NK T cells and enrichment of the CD4(+) NK T subset are associated with HTLV-1 disease progression. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 04/15856-9 - Prospective analysis of the virological and immunological characteristics in individuals with recent HIV-1 infection in the cities of São Paulo and Santos
Grantee:Ricardo Sobhie Diaz
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants