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Current State of Therapeutics for HTLV-1

Authors :
Tiana T. Wang
Ashley Hirons
Marcel Doerflinger
Kevin V. Morris
Scott Ledger
Damian F. J. Purcell
Anthony D. Kelleher
Chantelle L. Ahlenstiel
Source :
Viruses, Vol 16, Iss 10, p 1616 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Human T cell leukaemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is an oncogenic retrovirus that causes lifelong infection in ~5–10 million individuals globally. It is endemic to certain First Nations populations of Northern and Central Australia, Japan, South and Central America, Africa, and the Caribbean region. HTLV-1 preferentially infects CD4+ T cells and remains in a state of reduced transcription, often being asymptomatic in the beginning of infection, with symptoms developing later in life. HTLV-1 infection is implicated in the development of adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathies (HAM), amongst other immune-related disorders. With no preventive or curative interventions, infected individuals have limited treatment options, most of which manage symptoms. The clinical burden and lack of treatment options directs the need for alternative treatment strategies for HTLV-1 infection. Recent advances have been made in the development of RNA-based antiviral therapeutics for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 (HIV-1), an analogous retrovirus that shares modes of transmission with HTLV-1. This review highlights past and ongoing efforts in the development of HTLV-1 therapeutics and vaccines, with a focus on the potential for gene therapy as a new treatment modality in light of its successes in HIV-1, as well as animal models that may help the advancement of novel antiviral and anticancer interventions.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19994915
Volume :
16
Issue :
10
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Viruses
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.46be0425ea4f4ebea925e3c80bcbc8b1
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/v16101616