Recombinant Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type II gp21+gp46 chimeric antigen, HRP-Conjugated

Use of biologics has been widely advocated for inflammatory diseases recently. Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antibody therapy is reportedly effective against ocular inflammation. However, side effects of TNF-ox inhibition have been reported, particularly in the form of exacerbation of infections such as tuberculosis. Paradoxical reactions such as exacerbated inflammation are also well known. Around 20 million humans are infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) globally, and this virus can cause adult T-cell leukemia, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy and HTLV-1 uveitis. As for ophthalmic concerns, it has not been identified whether anti-TNF-alpha antibody stimulates HTLV-1-infected cells and ocular cells to induce HTLV-1 uveitis in HTLV-1 carriers. Here we investigated the effects of anti-TNF-alpha antibody on ocular status under HTLV-1 infectious conditions using ocular cells and HTLV-1 -infected cells in vitro. We used the ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cell line as ocular cells considered to play an important role in the blood-ocular barrier, and the MT2 HTLV-1-infected cell line. Jurkat cells were used as controls. Infliximab (IFX) was used as an anti-TNF-alpha antibody to achieve TNF-alpha inhibition. We evaluated the production of inflammatory cytokines and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, proliferation of ARPE-19, expression of TNF-alpha receptor (TNF-R) and HTLV-1 proviral DNA, and the percentage of apoptotic ARPE-19. Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, TNF, and ICAM-1 were significantly elevated through contact between ARPE-19 and MT2. Treatment with IFX tented to inhibit TNF production, although the level of production was low, but changes in IL-6, IL-8, and ICAM -1 remained unaffected. Expression of TNFR was unaltered by IFX treatment. HTLV-1 proviral DNA was not significantly changed with treatment. No change in cell growth rate or apoptotic rate of ARPE-19 was seen with the addition of IFX. In conclusion, IFX did not exacerbate production of inflammatory cytokines, and did not affect expression of TNFR, proliferation of ARPE-19, HTLV-1 proviral load, or apoptosis of ARPE-19. These results suggest that IFX does not exacerbate HTLV-1-related inflammation in the eye and represents an acceptable treatment option under HTLV-1 infectious conditions.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) and human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) are lymphomagenic viruses with region-specific induced morbidity. The RIAL-CYTED aims to increase the knowledge of lymphoma in Latin America (LA), and, as such, we systematically analyzed the literature to better understand our risk for virus-induced lymphoma. We observed that high endemicity regions for certain lymphomas, e.g., Mexico and Peru, have a high incidence of EBV-positive lymphomas of T/NK cell origin. Peru also carries the highest frequency of EBV-positive classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and EBV-positive diffuse large B cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (NOS), than any other LA country. Adult T cell lymphoma is endemic to the North of Brazil and Chile. While only few cases of KSHV-positive lymphomas were found, in spite of the close correlation of Kaposi sarcoma and the prevalence of pathogenic types of KSHV. Both EBV-associated HL and Burkitt lymphoma mainly affect young children, unlike in developed countries, in which adolescents and young adults are the most affected, correlating with an early EBV seroconversion for LA population despite of lack of infectious mononucleosis symptoms. High endemicity of KSHV and HTLV infection was observed among Amerindian populations, with differences between Amazonian and Andean populations.