Functionality of Natural Killer T cells(NKT)in the physiopathogeny from HTLV associated mielopathy/ Spastic Tropical Paraparesis.

Abstract

The human T cell lymphotropic vírus (HTLV) is a virus from the retrovirus family. This virus infect about 10 to 20 millions of people around the world, being most asymptomatic. The HTLV is associated to diverse pathologies as the T cell malignance and the HTLV associated myelopathy/ Spastic Tropical Paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Still now, have not available effective treatment or vaccination to this disease. The disease progression is caused by HTLV virus, but as its occurs remains unclear. Many studies makes association among this disease and inflammatory cells, and others with the T CD8 cells. Above was described that the Natural killer T cells (NKT) are cells with cytotoxic and helper activities. This cells are associated with infectious diseases, allergies and autoimmune pathologies. Our hypothesis is that the NKT cells are associated with the HAM/TSP disease progression. For this confirmation, we'll define the functional and the proliferation profiles of this cells, comparing HTLV asymptomatics carriers, HTLV carriers HAM/TSP and non-infected healthy controls