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(Referência obtida automaticamente do SciELO, por meio da informação sobre o financiamento pela FAPESP e o número do processo correspondente, incluída na publicação pelos autores.)

The pathogenesis of tropical spastic paraparesis/human T-cell leukemia type I-associated myelopathy

Texto completo
Autor(es):
J. Casseb ; A.C. Penalva-de-Oliveira
Número total de Autores: 2
Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
Fonte: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 33, n. 12, p. 1395-1401, 2000-12-00.
Resumo

Tropical spastic paraparesis/human T-cell leukemia type I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) is caused by a human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) after a long incubation period. TSP/HAM is characterized by a chronic progressive paraparesis with sphincter disturbances, no/mild sensory loss, the absence of spinal cord compression and seropositivity for HTLV-I antibodies. The pathogenesis of this entity is not completely known and involves a multivariable phenomenon of immune system activation against the presence of HTLV-I antigens, leading to an inflammatory process and demyelination, mainly in the thoracic spinal cord. The current hypothesis about the pathogenesis of TSP/HAM is: 1) presence of HTLV-I antigens in the lumbar spinal cord, noted by an increased DNA HTLV-I load; 2) CTL either with their lytic functions or release/production of soluble factors, such as CC-chemokines, cytokines, and adhesion molecules; 3) the presence of Tax gene expression that activates T-cell proliferation or induces an inflammatory process in the spinal cord; 4) the presence of B cells with neutralizing antibody production, or complement activation by an immune complex phenomenon, and 5) lower IL-2 and IFN-gamma production and increased IL-10, indicating drive to a cytokine type 2 pattern in the TSP/HAM subjects and the existence of a genetic background such as some HLA haplotypes. All of these factors should be implicated in TSP/HAM and further studies are necessary to investigate their role in the development of TSP/HAM. (AU)

Processo FAPESP: 99/11188-1 - Perfil de citocinas e quantificação de carga viral de DNA de HTLV-I em indivíduos infectados pelo HIV e co-infectados pelo vírus HTLV-I
Beneficiário:Jorge Simao do Rosario Casseb
Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular