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Liu N, Shi F, Yang L, Liao W, Cao Y. Oncogenic viral infection and amino acid metabolism in cancer progression: Molecular insights and clinical implications. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188724. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Cognitive screening in HTLV-1-infected people using a self-perceived memory score and auditory P300. J Neurovirol 2022; 28:123-132. [PMID: 35167053 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-021-01044-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is the most common neurological manifestation associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection. Although cognitive impairment has been highlighted in the spectrum of HTLV-1 neurological manifestations, it may go unnoticed in those who do not spontaneously report it. We aimed at evaluating the applicability of a self-perceived memory score (SMS) and the cognitive event-related potential (P300) for early detection of cognitive impairment in HTLV-1-infected people. The SMS was measured by a 0-10 point numeric scale combined with a sad-happy face rating scale. The higher the number, the better was the SMS. The P300 was obtained through an oddball paradigm with a mental counting task. The participants were 15 (21.4%) individuals with HAM/TSP, 20 (28.6%) HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers, and 35 (50%) seronegative controls. We found that SMS (p < 0.001) and P300 latency (p < 0.001) got progressively worse from the seronegative controls to the asymptomatic carriers and then to the HAM/TSP. The results that indicated cognitive impairment were SMS < 7.2 points and P300 latency > 369.0 ms. The HAM/TSP group showed the highest prevalence of altered P300 (80%) and SMS (87%). Interestingly, the asymptomatic group also presented significantly higher prevalence of altered SMS (60%) and P300 (35%) when compared to controls (< 10%). The frequency of cognitive impairment was 16 times higher in the HTLV-1 asymptomatic group and 69 times higher in the HAM/TSP group when compared to controls. The use of SMS in the medical consultation was a useful and easy-to-apply method to screen HTLV-1-infected subjects for everyday memory complaints.
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de Paula JJ, Romanelli LC, de Faria RCV, Proietti AB, Malloy-Diniz LF, Romano-Silva MA, de Miranda DM, Nicolato R. Cognitive impairment in the HTLV-1 infection: a comparative study associated with functional performance. J Neurovirol 2021; 27:849-856. [PMID: 32955704 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-020-00905-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Human T cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-1) infection courses with a myelopathy, the tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). In a case-control study, we compared the neuropsychological profile and functional characteristics in two case HTLV-1-infected groups (asymptomatic and with HAM/TSP) with a control group negative for HTLV-1. Subjects were paired for age, sex, and educational features. The case group differed from control group in neuropsychological measures such as in episodic memory recall, executive functions, and fine motor dexterity measure. Individuals with HAM/TSP have more depressive symptoms and worst performance in activities of daily living (ADL) presenting a less functionality. In multivariate models, the fine motor performance, the executive functioning, the recognition memory, and the depressive symptoms explained part of the variance in functionality. Those findings may contribute to understand of everyday life impairments and limitations of HTLV-1-infected population and to organize the rehabilitation. Once more, based in neuropsychological and functional data, we can reaffirm that HTLV-1 is never a benign condition, but sometimes it is only in a stage coursing with less symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Jardim de Paula
- Centro de Tecnologia em Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | | | - Renata Caetano Vieira de Faria
- Centro de Tecnologia em Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz
- Centro de Tecnologia em Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Saúde Mental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurélio Romano-Silva
- Centro de Tecnologia em Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Saúde Mental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Debora Marques de Miranda
- Centro de Tecnologia em Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Pediatria Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Nicolato
- Centro de Tecnologia em Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Saúde Mental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Busatto G, Rosa PG, Serpa MH, Squarzoni P, Duran FL. Psychiatric neuroimaging research in Brazil: historical overview, current challenges, and future opportunities. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PSIQUIATRIA (SAO PAULO, BRAZIL : 1999) 2021; 43:83-101. [PMID: 32520165 PMCID: PMC7861184 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The last four decades have witnessed tremendous growth in research studies applying neuroimaging methods to evaluate pathophysiological and treatment aspects of psychiatric disorders around the world. This article provides a brief history of psychiatric neuroimaging research in Brazil, including quantitative information about the growth of this field in the country over the past 20 years. Also described are the various methodologies used, the wealth of scientific questions investigated, and the strength of international collaborations established. Finally, examples of the many methodological advances that have emerged in the field of in vivo neuroimaging are provided, with discussion of the challenges faced by psychiatric research groups in Brazil, a country of limited resources, to continue incorporating such innovations to generate novel scientific data of local and global relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldo Busatto
- Laboratório de Neuroimagem em Psiquiatria (LIM 21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Pedro G. Rosa
- Laboratório de Neuroimagem em Psiquiatria (LIM 21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mauricio H. Serpa
- Laboratório de Neuroimagem em Psiquiatria (LIM 21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paula Squarzoni
- Laboratório de Neuroimagem em Psiquiatria (LIM 21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fabio L. Duran
- Laboratório de Neuroimagem em Psiquiatria (LIM 21), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Aghajanian S, Teymoori-Rad M, Molaverdi G, Mozhgani SH. Immunopathogenesis and Cellular Interactions in Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:614940. [PMID: 33414779 PMCID: PMC7783048 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.614940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a neuropathological disorder in 1–3% of individuals infected with Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1). This condition is characterized by progressive spastic lower limb weakness and paralysis, lower back pain, bladder incontinence, and mild sensory disturbances resembling spinal forms of multiple sclerosis. This disease also causes chronic disability and is therefore associated with high health burden in areas where HTLV-1 infection is endemic. Despite various efforts in understanding the virus and discovery of novel diagnostic markers, and cellular and viral interactions, HAM/TSP management is still unsatisfactory and mainly focused on symptomatic alleviation, and it hasn’t been explained why only a minority of the virus carriers develop HAM/TSP. This comprehensive review focuses on host and viral factors in association with immunopathology of the disease in hope of providing new insights for drug therapies or other forms of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepehr Aghajanian
- Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Majid Teymoori-Rad
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghazale Molaverdi
- Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.,Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
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Einsiedel L, Pham H, Talukder MRR, Liddle J, Taylor K, Wilson K, Jersmann H, Gessain A, Woodman R, Kaldor J. Pulmonary Disease Is Associated With Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1c Infection: A Cross-sectional Survey in Remote Aboriginal Communities. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 73:e1498-e1506. [DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) subtype c is endemic to central Australia. We report the first large-scale, community-based, health survey of HTLV-1 and its disease associations in this setting.
Methods
Aboriginal community residents aged >2 years in 7 remote communities were invited to do a health survey that included a questionnaire, spirometry, and clinical examination by a physician blinded to HTLV-1 status, clinical records, and spirometry results. Blood was drawn for HTLV-1 serology and proviral load (PVL). Pulmonary disease was assessed clinically and spirometrically and, where records were available, radiologically after the clinical assessment. Associations between specific diseases and HTLV-1 status were determined using logistic regression, adjusting for available confounders.
Results
Overall, 579 residents (164 children aged 3–17 years; 415 adults) were examined (37.7% of the estimated resident population). HTLV-1 prevalences for children and adults were 6.1% and 39.3%, respectively. No associations were found between HTLV-1 and any assessed clinical condition among children. Chronic pulmonary disease and gait abnormalities were more common among adults with HTLV-1 infection. Adjusted odds ratios among participants with PVL ≥1000 per 105 peripheral blood leukocytes were 7.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.67–18.74; P < .001), 9.81 (95% CI, 3.52–27.35; P < .001), and 14.4 (95% CI, 4.99–41.69; P < .001) for clinically defined chronic pulmonary disease, moderate-severe expiratory airflow limitation, and radiologically determined bronchiectasis/bronchiolitis, respectively, and 5.21 (95% CI, 1.50–18.07; P = .009) for gait abnormalities.
Conclusions
In the first study of HTLV-1 disease associations based on community recruitment and blinded assessment, HTLV-1 infection was strongly associated with pulmonary disease and gait abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lloyd Einsiedel
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, Australia
| | - Hai Pham
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, Australia
| | | | - Joel Liddle
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, Australia
| | - Kerry Taylor
- Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Wellbeing, Alice Springs, Australia
| | - Kim Wilson
- National Serology Reference Laboratory, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Antoine Gessain
- Oncogenic virus epidemiology and pathophysiology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - John Kaldor
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Castro ARRD, Labanca L, Resende LMD, Utsch-Gonçalves D. Case Report: Cognitive Impairment without Clinical Spinal Disease May Be the First Sign of HTLV-1 Neurological Alteration. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 102:366-369. [PMID: 31833466 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Human t-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM) is a progressive neurological disease whose diagnosis is defined by clinical manifestations and seropositivity for HTLV-1 infection. Cognitive impairment (CI) is considered to occur after spinal impairment. A 51-year-old HTLV-1-infected man classified as an asymptomatic carrier presented difficulties in listening comprehension and executive memory. He was assessed for central auditory processing (CAP), cognition (event-related auditory evoked potential [P300]), and otoneurological functions (galvanic vestibular-evoked myogenic potential [gVEMP]). Altered responses were found in CAP, P300, and gVEMP, but the neurological examination and cognitive screening were normal. After a 2-year follow-up, we disclosed a positive Babinski sign, a mild CI, worsened P300, and gVEMP latencies, and the patient reported progressive lumbar pain and difficulty running. He was, then, reclassified as HAM. The first examination, in 2016, had already shown abnormal results in P300 and gVEMP despite the HTLV-1-asymptomatic carrier status. Therefore, tests that provide subclinical measures of neurological disease progression can be useful tools for an early diagnosis and intervention in HTLV-1 patients. Electrophysiological results had worsened as well as the clinical status and the cognitive function and the progression from asymptomatic status to an HTLV-1-associated neurological disease occurred within 2 years. Thus, HTLV-1-infected individuals with complaints of CI, hearing, or otoneurological manifestations should be submitted to neuropsychological and electrophysiological tests, allowing them to be properly cared in case of HAM progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Rejane Rosa de Castro
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ludimila Labanca
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Denise Utsch-Gonçalves
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Silva TR, Labanca L, Caporali JFDM, Santos MAR, de Resende LM, Scoralick Dias RT, Utsch Gonçalves D. Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) reveals mesencephalic HTLV-1-associated neurological disease. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217327. [PMID: 31881022 PMCID: PMC6934290 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Vestibular Myogenic Evoked Potential (VEMP) evaluates vestibulo-ocular and vestibulo-collic reflexes involved in the function of the otolithic organs and their afferent pathways. We compared the results of cervical and ocular VEMP in HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM) and HTLV-1-asymptomatic infection. Participants and methods This cross-sectional study included 52 HTLV-1-infected individuals (26 HAM and 26 asymptomatic carriers) and 26 seronegative controls. The groups were similar regarding age and gender. Participants underwent simultaneous ocular and cervical VEMP. The stimulus to generate VEMP was a low-frequency tone burst sound tone burst, with an intensity of 120 decibels normalized hearing level, bandpass filter from 10 to 1,500 Hertz (Hz), with 100 stimuli at 500 Hz and 50 milliseconds recording time. The latencies of the electrophysiological waves P13 and N23 for cervical VEMP and N10 and P15 waves for ocular VEMP were compared among the groups. The absence or delay of the electrophysiological waves were considered abnormal results. Results Ocular VEMP was similar among the groups for N10 (p = 0.375) and different for P15 (p≤0.001). Cervical VEMP was different for P13 (p = 0.001) and N23 (p = 0.003). About ocular VEMP, in the HTLV-1-asymptomatic group, normal waves were found in 23(88.5%) individuals; in HAM group, normal waves were found in 7(26.9%). About cervical VEMP, 18(69.2%) asymptomatic carriers presented normal waves and only 3(11.5%) patients with HAM presented normal waves. Abnormalities in both VEMPs were found in 1(3.8%) asymptomatic carrier and in 16(61.5%) patients with HAM. Conclusion Neurological impairment in HAM was not restricted to the spinal cord. The mesencephalic connections, tested by ocular VEMP, have been also altered. Damage of the oculomotor system, responsible for eye stabilization during head and body movements, may explain why dizziness is such a frequent complaint in HAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Rocha Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ludimila Labanca
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Júlia Fonseca de Morais Caporali
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurélio Rocha Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fonoaudiológicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luciana Macedo de Resende
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fonoaudiológicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rafael Teixeira Scoralick Dias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Denise Utsch Gonçalves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Reprogramming of cellular metabolic pathways by human oncogenic viruses. Curr Opin Virol 2019; 39:60-69. [PMID: 31766001 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2019.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic viruses, like all viruses, relies on host metabolism to provide the metabolites and energy needed for virus replication. Many DNA tumor viruses and retroviruses will reprogram metabolism during infection. Additionally, some viral oncogenes may alter metabolism independent of virus replication. Virus infection and cancer development share many similarities regarding metabolic reprogramming as both processes demand increased metabolic activity to produce biomass: cell proliferation in the case of cancer and virion production in the case of infection. This review discusses the parallels in metabolic reprogramming between human oncogenic viruses and oncogenesis.
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Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 and Zika virus: tale of two reemerging viruses with neuropathological sequelae of public health concern. J Neurovirol 2019; 25:289-300. [PMID: 30693421 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-019-00720-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and Zika virus (ZIKV) have been considered neglected viruses of low public health concern until recently when incidences of HTLV-1 and ZIKV were observed to be linked to serious immune-related disease and neurological complications. This review will discuss the epidemiology, genomic evolution, virus-host interactions, virulence factors, neuropathological sequelae, and current perspectives of these reemerging viruses. There are no FDA-approved therapeutics or vaccines against these viruses, and as such, it is important for clinical trials to focus on developing vaccines that can induce cell-mediated immune response to confer long-term protective immunity. Furthermore, attention should be paid to reducing the transmission of these viruses through unprotected sex, infected blood during sharing of contaminated needles, donated blood and organs, and vertical transmission from mother to baby via breastfeeding. There is an urgent need to re-evaluate repurposing current antiviral therapies as well as developing novel antiviral agents with enhanced efficacy due to the high morbidity rate associated with these two reemerging chronic viral diseases.
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Spinal cord hypometabolism associated with infection by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1(HTLV-1). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006720. [PMID: 30148843 PMCID: PMC6128630 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HTLV-1 infection is endemic in Brazil. About 1 to 2% of the Brazilian population is estimated to be infected, but most infected HTLV-1 individuals do not know about their own infection, which favors the continuity of sexual and vertical virus transmission. In addition, HTLV-1 associated central nervous system diseases and their pathophysiologic mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of spinal cord metabolism, viral and inflammatory profiles with features of neurological presentation in HTLV-1 infected individuals. Methodology This is a cross-sectional study of a cohort including 48 HTLV-1 infected individuals clinically classified as asymptomatic-AG (N = 21), symptomatic-SG (N = 11) and HAM/TSP-HG (N = 16) and a nested case-control study with HTLV-1 infected individuals-HIG (N = 48) and HTLV-1 non infected controls-CG (N = 30) that had their spinal cord analysed by Positron Emission Tomography with 18F-Fluordeoxyglucose (18F-FDG PET/CT). HTLV-1 infected individuals had 18F-FDG PET/CT results analyzed with clinical and demographic data, proviral load, cytokines and chemokines in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Principal Findings 18F-FDG PET/CT showed hypometabolism in the thoracic spinal cord in HTLV-1 infected individuals. The method had an accuracy of 94.4% to identify HAM/TSP. A greater involvement of the thoracic spinal cord was observed, although hypometabolism was also observed in the cervical spinal cord segment in HTLV-1 infected individuals. Individuals with HAM/TSP showed a pro-inflammatory profile in comparison to asymptomatic and symptomatic groups, with a higher level of Interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (ITAC/CXCL11), IL-6, IL-12p70 in the plasma; and ITAC, IL-4, IL-5, IL-8 (CXCL8) and TNF-alpha in the CSF. Using regression, thoracic spinal cord SUV (standardized uptake value) and CSF ITAC level were identified as the HAM/TSP predictors in the multivariate model. Conclusions 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging showed spinal cord hypometabolism in most HTLV-1 infected individuals, even in the asymptomatic HTLV-1 group. Thoracic spinal cord hypometabolism and CSF-ITAC levels were identified predictors of HAM/TSP. Significance Our findings suggested that in most HTLV-1 infected individuals there was compromise of central nervous system (CNS) structures despite of the lack of clinical symptoms. To explain the found hypometabolism, the role of microcirculatory and metabolic factors in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases associated with HTLV-1 infection must be further investigated. It is paramount to evaluate the central nervous function and to compare the performance among HTLV-1 infected individuals considered asymptomatic to the uninfected controls. For the past 30 years, human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) has been isolated and associated with neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. It is known that the neurological disorder associated with HTLV-1 comprises HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP) or any other isolated signals and symptoms. Despite all the knowledge accumulated so far, the association of neurological diseases to HTLV-1 infection remains difficult and neglected. We designed this study in order to assess the degree of neurological impairment associated with HTLV-1 infection through a metabolic evaluation with 18F-FDG PET/CT. Our results evidenced a more pronounced hypometabolism in the spinal cord of individuals with neurological impairment, but also evidenced hypometabolism in asymptomatic HTLV-1 infected individuals. We believe that areas of the CNS with lower circulatory and perfusional balance are more vulnerable to HTLV-1 infection. Mechanisms of cellular entry of the virus may be associated with loss of microcirculatory homeostasis and predisposition to a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier in these areas. Further studies are still necessary to shed light on the mechanisms associated with brain and spinal hypometabolism.
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