Leukotrienes Are Upregulated and Associated with Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1

• Published in: PloS one 2012-12, Vol.7 (12), p.e51873
• Main Authors: Trindade, Bruno Caetano, Sorgi, Carlos Artério, Nicolete, Larissa Deadame de Figueiredo, Malta, Tathiane Maistro, Pinto, Mariana Tomazini, Takayanagui, Osvaldo Massaiti, Covas, Dimas Tadeu, Filho, Olindo Assis Martins, Kashima, Simone, Faccioli, Lúcia Helena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Development and progression; Gene expression; Health aspects; Infection; Medical research; Medical schools; Nervous system diseases; T cells
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051873

Leukotrienes (LTs) are lipid mediators involved in several inflammatory disorders. We investigated the LT pathway in human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection by evaluating LT levels in HTLV-1-infected patients classified according to the clinical status as asymptomatic carriers (HACs) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients. Bioactive LTB.sub.4 and CysLTs were both increased in the plasma and in the supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures of HTLV-1-infected when compared to non-infected. Interestingly, CysLT concentrations were increased in HAM/TSP patients. Also, the concentration of plasma LTB.sub.4 and LTC.sub.4 positively correlated with the HTLV-1 proviral load in HTLV-1-infected individuals. The gene expression levels of LT receptors were differentially modulated in CD4.sup.+ and CD8.sup.+ T cells of HTLV-1-infected patients. Analysis of the overall plasma signature of immune mediators demonstrated that LT and chemokine amounts were elevated during HTLV-1 infection. Importantly, in addition to CysLTs, IP-10 was also identified as a biomarker for HAM/TSP activity. These data suggest that LTs are likely to be associated with HTLV-1 infection and HAM/TSP development, suggesting their putative use for clinical monitoring.