Pathogenicity of Treg-derived Th1-like cells identified in patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461293
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: St. Marianna University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Sato Tomoo 聖マリアンナ医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (30387063)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: HTLV-1 / Tax / 制御性T細胞 / HTLV-1関連脊髄症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recently, we reported that HTLV-1 induces Treg-derived Th1-like cells via the viral protein Tax in patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy. However, the pathogenicity of the Treg-derived Th1-like cells induced by Tax remains unclear. In order to investigate the pathogenicity of the cells, we established mice that expressed Tax specifically in Treg (Foxp3+ cells). All the mice that expressed Tax in all of the Foxp3+ cells died in 6 weeks, and almost all the mice that expressed Tax in some of the Foxp3+ cells showed chronic ear skin inflammation and chronic tail skin ulcer. These results suggest that HTLV-1 tax may modulate Treg function of the Foxp3+ cells and Tax-expressing Foxp3+ cells induce chronic inflammatory conditions in mice.

Free Research Field

神経病態免疫学