Possible deterioration of Apolipoproteins expression by HTLV-1 infection in favor of infected leukemic cells in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL)

Abstract

BackgroundIt has been suggested that human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection can affect the lipid profile. Therefore, in this study, the main apolipoproteins and HTLV-1 regulatory factors were assessed in infected subjects. Methods and resultsA cross-sectional study was performed on 12 adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and 10 HAM/TSP patients, and 10 HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers (ACs). The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assessed for proviral load (PVL) measurement and the expression of HBZ, ABCA, APOA, and APOE, using the qRT-PCR, Taqman method.The ABCA1 expression level in the ATLL group was significantly higher than ACs and HAM/TSP, (P = 0.034 and P = 0.019, respectively). The APOA1 expression, in ATLL (0.89 ± 0.30) and HAM/TSP patients (0.31 ± 0.25), was lower than HTLV-1 ACs (1.15 ± 0.63); but not significant. The APOE expression in the ACs' group (22.66 ± 7.88) was strongly higher than ATLL (0.003 ± 0.0004) and HAM/TSP (1.81 ± 0.60) subjects (P = 0.007 and P = 0.012, respectively); ATLL and HAM/TSP groups had no significant differences (P = 0.957). All of the ATLL patients expressed HBZ, but not Tax, on the other hand more than 70% of HAM/TSPs and ACs expressed Tax but only one AC and one HAM/TSP patient expressed HBZ. The PVL median in ATLL patients was higher (2983.87 ± 1797.07copies/104PBMCs), than ACs (17.00 ± 10.00copies/104) (P = 0.016), and HAM/TSP (314.00 ± 185.00) (P = 0.05). ConclusionsThe HBZ probably altering the expression of ABCA1 and APOE, which particularly, can deteriorate the lipid profile in ATLL patients. The importance of APOE in healthy condition and its negative correlation with PVL in ATLL patients could be a novel target in therapy.