Abstract
The human T cell leukemic/lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), discovered several years ago, is the causative agent for a rapid progressive haematological malignancy, adult T cell leukemia (ATL), for debilitating neurological diseases and for a number of inflammatory based diseases. Although the heterogeneous features of the diseases caused by HTLV-1, a common topic concerning related therapeutic treatments relies on the use of antiretrovirals. This review will compare the different approaches and opinions in this matter, giving a concise overview of preclinical as well as clinical studies covering all the aspects of antiretrovirals in HTLV-1 infection. Studies will be grouped on the basis of the class of antiretroviral, putting together both pre-clinical and clinical results and generally following a chronological order. Analysis of the existing literature highlights that a number of preclinical studies clearly demonstrate that different classes of antiretrovirals, already utilized as anti-HIV agents, are actually capable to efficiently contrast HTLV-1 infection. Nevertheless, the results of most of the clinical studies are generally discouraging on the same point. In conclusion, the design of new antiretrovirals more specifically focused on HTLV-1 targets, and/or the establishment of early treatments with antiretrovirals could hopefully change the perspectives of diseases caused by HTLV-1.
Highlights
The human T cell leukemic/lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) [1] was the first human retrovirus to be identified, almost 40 years ago [2]
The reported data suggest that antiretroviral therapy in HTLV-1 infection could provide benefit there is not a common protocol to be suggested
The preclinical studies, have clearly demonstrated that antiretroviral therapies based on drugs translated by the HIV experience efficiently repress HTLV-1 infection, with exception of 3TC owe to a natural resistance of the virus
Summary
The human T cell leukemic/lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) [1] was the first human retrovirus to be identified, almost 40 years ago [2]. In HTLV-1 infected patients, usually very low (if any) productive infection is detected, antiretrovirals are expected to be of low efficacy, unless viral replication is activated This could explain the low efficacy of antiretrovirals in HTLV-1 infection compared with HIV infection. Given that the opportunity to treat HTLV-1 infected individuals with antiretroviral therapy is still controversial, in this review, we will try to compare the different approaches and opinions concerning this matter. To this purpose, we will give a concise, and as complete as possible, overview of preclinical as well as clinical studies covering all the aspect of antiretrovirals in HTLV-1 infection. Obtained results will be presented mainly in a chronological order, deliberately putting together preclinical and clinical research
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