IMMUNOLOGICAL FEATURES OF HTLV-I MYELOPATHY IN RIO-DE-JANEIRO, BRAZIL, AND IN-VITRO EFFECTS OF CYCLOSPORINE-A

Brazilian patients with HTLV-1 myelopathy present a significant sponta neous lymphocyte proliferation (SLP), and an increased response to IL- 2 exogenous stimulation, in both peripheral blood lymphocytes and in w hole blood proliferative assays, when compared to the control group. H igh antibody titers against HTLV-I antigens were also observed in comp arison to healthy seropositive individuals. IL-6 was detected in cereb rospinal fluid (CSF) of 50% of the patients (10 out of 20) and TNF-alp ha in four out of nineteen individuals. No correlation was found betwe en the presence of levels of cytokines n-6 and TNF-alpha and duration or severity of disease. The addition of cyclosporin A (CsA) significan tly inhibited SLP suggesting that this therapeutic agent should be stu died in HTLV-1 myelopathy. Brazilian patients with HTLV-I myelopathy p resent the same immunological abnormalities described in other endemic regions. The whole blood assay reflects the same results of separated blood cells and, due to its rapid execution may be used as an assay t o follow clinical trials.