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- Title
HTLV-1 Tax Specific CD8+ T Cells Express Low Levels of Tim-3 in HTLV-1 Infection: Implications for Progression to Neurological Complications.
- Authors
Ndhlovu, Lishomwa C.; Leal, Fabio E.; Hasenkrug, Aaron M.; Jha, Aashish R.; Carvalho, Karina I.; Eccles-James, Ijeoma G.; Bruno, Fernanda R.; Vieira, Raphaella G. S.; York, Vanessa A.; Chew, Glen M.; Jones, R. Brad; Tanaka, Yuetsu; Neto, Walter K.; Sanabani, Sabri S.; Ostrowski, Mario A.; Segurado, Aluisio C.; Nixon, Douglas F.; Kallas, Esper G.
- Abstract
The T cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 (Tim-3) receptor is highly expressed on HIV-1-specific T cells, rendering them partially "exhausted" and unable to contribute to the effective immune mediated control of viral replication. To elucidate novel mechanisms contributing to the HTLV-1 neurological complex and its classic neurological presentation called HAM/TSP (HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis), we investigated the expression of the Tim-3 receptor on CD8+ T cells from a cohort of HTLV-1 seropositive asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Patients diagnosed with HAM/TSP down-regulated Tim-3 expression on both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells compared to asymptomatic patients and HTLV-1 seronegative controls. HTLV-1 Tax-specific, HLA-A*02 restricted CD8+ T cells among HAM/TSP individuals expressed markedly lower levels of Tim-3. We observed Tax expressing cells in both Tim-3+ and Tim-3− fractions. Taken together, these data indicate that there is a systematic downregulation of Tim-3 levels on T cells in HTLV-1 infection, sustaining a profoundly highly active population of potentially pathogenic T cells that may allow for the development of HTLV-1 complications. Author Summary: The retrovirus, 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. The precise role of CD8+ killer T cells in the control or contribution of HTLV-1 disease progression remains unclear. The T-cell immunoglobulin mucin domain-containing (Tim) proteins are type 1 transmembrane proteins. Three human Tim proteins (Tim-1, -3, and -4) exist and display markedly diverse expression patterns and functions. Tim-3 is upregulated on CD8+ T cells during chronic viral infections leading to a population of poorly functioning T cells. We investigated the expression of Tim-3 on T cells from patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic HTLV-1 infection and compared this with HTLV-1 uninfected donors. Patients diagnosed with HAM/TSP down-regulated Tim-3 expression on T cells when compared to asymptomatic patients and uninfected controls. Our study provides evidence of a novel mechanism for the persistent inflammation observed in HTLV-1 infected patients with neurological deficits and significantly advances our understanding of how the Tim-3 pathway functions.
- Subjects
PARAPARESIS; T cells; CYTOTOXIC T cells; HEPATITIS A virus cellular receptors; HTLV; NEUROLOGIC manifestations of general diseases
- Publication
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2011, Vol 5, Issue 4, p1
- ISSN
1935-2727
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pntd.0001030