HTLV-1 and Immunosuppression

Like HIV, HTLV-1 infects lymphocytes and can cause immunosuppressive disease that leads to opportunistic infections. It is, in fact, an immunostimulator because it activates Th1 T4 cells. This leads to the production of cytokines by Th1 cells which suppress the production of Th2 cell cytokines. Thus the Th2 response is diminished.

Among the opportunistic infections that arise in HTLV-1 patients are:

• Staphylococcus species, Klebsiella species or Bordetella pertussis which can cause Bronchiectasis, bronchial inflammation and necrosis., leading to pneumonia
• Staphylococcus aureus leading to sepsis
• Helminth infections