Abstract
Cytotoxic memory T cells play a critical role in combating viral infections; however, in some diseases they may contribute to tissue damage. In HAM/TSP, HTLV-1 Tax 11-19+ cells proliferate spontaneously in vitro and can be tracked using the Tax 11-19 MHC Class I tetramer. Immediately ex vivo, these cells were a mix of CD45RA-/CCR7- TEM and CD45RA+/CCR7- TDiff memory CTL. The subsequent proliferating Tax 11-19 tetramer+ population expressed low levels of IL-7Ralpha, failed to respond to IL-7 and IL-15, and did not develop a TCM phenotype. Thus, chronic exposure to viral antigen may result in a sustained pool of TEM cells that home to the CNS and mediate the spinal cord pathology seen in this disease.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
MeSH terms
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Gene Products, tax / immunology
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Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / immunology*
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Humans
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Immunologic Memory*
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Leukocyte Common Antigens / analysis
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Middle Aged
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Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / immunology
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Peptide Fragments / immunology
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / physiology
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Receptors, CCR7
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Receptors, Chemokine / analysis
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Receptors, Interleukin-7 / analysis
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
Substances
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CCR7 protein, human
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Gene Products, tax
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Peptide Fragments
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
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Receptors, CCR7
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Receptors, Chemokine
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Receptors, Interleukin-7
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interleukin-7 receptor, alpha chain
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Leukocyte Common Antigens