Reciprocal interactions between human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 and prostaglandins: Implications for viral transmission

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the etiologic agent of adult T- cell leukemia/lymphoma, is transmitted through breast milk and seminal flui d, which are rich in prostaglandins (PGs), We demonstrate that PGE, upregul ates the HTLV-1 long terminal repeat promoter through the protein kinase A pathway, induces replication of HTLV-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell s (PBMC) derived from asymptomatic carriers, and enhances transmission of H TLV-1 to cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC), Furthermore, HTLV-1 Tax trans activates a promoter for cyclooxygenase 2, a PG synthetase, and induces PGE (2) expression in PBMC or CBMC, Thus, HTLV-1 interacts with and benefits fr om PGs, constituents of its own vehicle for transmission.