Epidemiology, Treatment, and Prevention of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-Associated Diseases

Abstract

SUMMARYHuman T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the first human retrovirus to be discovered, is present in diverse regions of the world, where its infection is usually neglected in health care settings and by public health authorities. Since it is usually asymptomatic in the beginning of the infection and disease typically manifests later in life, silent transmission occurs, which is associated with sexual relations, breastfeeding, and blood transfusions. There are no prospects of vaccines, and screening of blood banks and in prenatal care settings is not universal. Therefore, its transmission is active in many areas such as parts of Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean region, Asia, and Melanesia. It causes serious diseases in humans, including adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and an incapacitating neurological disease (HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis [HAM/TSP]) besides other afflictions such as uveitis, rheumatic syndromes, and predisposition to helminthic and bacterial infections, among others. These diseases are not curable as yet, and current treatments as well as new perspectives are discussed in the present review.

Seroprevalencia del virus linfotrópico humano de tipos I y II en donantes del Banco de Sangre de la Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia, 2008-2014

“…La infección por HTLV en individuos asintomáticos no tiene ningún tratamiento establecido y solo algunas de las enfermedades relacionadas con el virus lo tienen (24). El hecho de ser el causante de enfermedades graves, como la leucemia o el linfoma de células T y la paraparesia espástica tropical, ubica al HTLV en la categoría de los virus contra los cuales se trata de elaborar vacunas eficaces (25).…”

“…Son diversas las enfermedades relacionadas con la infección por HTLV I-II, pero solo entre el 5 y el 10 % de las infecciones progresan a enfermedad (7). Entre las descritas hasta el momento figuran la leucemia o linfoma de células T, la paraparesia espástica tropical o miopatía asociada al HTLV, la uveítis, múltiples alteraciones dermatológicas, la miositis, la polimiositis, la polineuropatía, los trastornos psiquiátricos, las infecciones oportunistas, la infección por Strongyloides stercoralis y las condiciones reumatológicas autoinmunitarias (8)(9)(10).…”

Reducing the global burden of HTLV-1 infection: An agenda for research and action

“…Besides ATL and HAM/TSP, persistent infection by HTLV-1 also leads to a broad spectrum of diseases associated with significant morbidity: uveitis, infective dermatitis, crusted scabies, inflammatory rheumatic conditions (rheumatoid arthritis and Sj€ ogren's syndrome), peripheral neuropathies and muscle inflammation (myositis) (Gonçalves et al, 2010). The mechanisms leading to any of these conditions are currently unknown.…”

Tax is Involved in Up-regulation of HMGB1 Expression Levels by Interaction with C/EBP

“…The prognosis is poor, with less than 1 year survival for patients (Goncalves et al, 2010). However, investigators have also shown that low prevalence of HTLV-1 infection in Iranian gastric cancer patients in comparison to controls (Tahaei et al, 2011).…”