Planned Research
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
HTLV-1 bZIP factor (HBZ) gene is encoded in the minus strand of HTLV-1 provirus. The HBZ gene is constantly expressed in ATL cells and HTLV-1 infected cells. HBZ enhances transcription of Foxp3 gene through activation of TGF-β pathway. However, since this expression is unstable, Foxp3+ T cells are converted to Foxp3- T cells, which highly produce IFN-γ. Overproduction of IFN-γ is associated with inflammation and lymphomagenesis. Transcription factors, TCF1 and LEF1, inhibit function of Tax. Therefore, HTLV-1 infected cells are rare in thymic T cells that highly express TCF1 and LEF1. This is the mechanism why HTLV-1 favors effector/memory T cells in vivo.
ウイルス学
