Franchini G, Streicher H
Animal Model and Vaccine Section, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Baillieres Clin Haematol. 1995 Mar;8(1):131-48. doi: 10.1016/s0950-3536(05)80235-5.
HTLV-I has a complex and finely regulated mechanism of replication, which can be used as a model to study both cellular and viral regulation pathways in T-cells. Understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the pleiotropic effects of HTLV-I in the host represents a real challenge. Immunological regulation likely plays a central role in HTLV-I induced neurological disease, uveitis, and perhaps arthritis, implicating the importance of host factors as well. Viral proteins, including tax and p12' might play a role in T-cell proliferation, but the event(s) that result in the late leukaemic phase are unknown. The lack of effective therapy against HTLV-I-induced leukaemia renders prevention of viral infection the best means to eliminate HTLV-I associated diseases. Elimination or reduction of breast feeding from seropositive mothers in Japan has already produced encouraging results. In developing countries, probably only a vaccine will prevent the spread of HTLV-I infection. The molecular epidemiology of HTLV and STLV will help understand not only the phylogeny of these viruses but also the migration of human populations in the past. Episodes of horizontal transmission in the past and probably the present, indicates that nonhuman primates are the natural reservoir of HTLVs. New related viruses will likely be discovered in monkeys (and humans) in the future.
人类嗜T淋巴细胞病毒I型（HTLV-I）具有复杂且调控精细的复制机制，可作为研究T细胞中细胞和病毒调控途径的模型。理解HTLV-I在宿主中多效性作用的潜在机制是一项真正的挑战。免疫调节可能在HTLV-I诱导的神经疾病、葡萄膜炎以及或许还有关节炎中起核心作用，这也暗示了宿主因素的重要性。包括tax和p12'在内的病毒蛋白可能在T细胞增殖中起作用，但导致晚期白血病阶段的事件尚不清楚。缺乏针对HTLV-I诱导的白血病的有效治疗方法，使得预防病毒感染成为消除HTLV-I相关疾病的最佳手段。在日本，血清反应阳性母亲停止或减少母乳喂养已产生了令人鼓舞的结果。在发展中国家，可能只有疫苗才能预防HTLV-I感染的传播。HTLV和STLV的分子流行病学不仅有助于了解这些病毒的系统发育，还能帮助了解过去人类群体的迁徙情况。过去以及可能现在存在的水平传播事件表明，非人类灵长类动物是HTLVs的天然宿主。未来很可能会在猴子（以及人类）中发现新的相关病毒。
