About this Research Topic
This Research Topic wants to continue the scientific discussion around the Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1).
HTLV-1 was discovered about 40 years ago and is the only known oncogenic human retrovirus. HTLV-1 causes a neoplastic disease called adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), and several inflammatory diseases, that include HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), HTLV-1 uveitis and infective dermatitis. HTLV-1 was also found highly endemic among indigenous people in Australia and was shown to be associated with pulmonary diseases.
Intensive studies have been done to develop effective treatments for ATL, however, the survival period of aggressive type ATL, acute and lymphoma types, is still very short with chemotherapy.
For these reasons, allogeneic stem cell transplantation and anti-viral therapy with IFNa/AZT have been used. Now, some newly developed drugs are under clinical trials. In addition, treatments for other HTLV-1-related diseases are still very disappointing, however, new trials have been performed with promising results.
This Research Topic will provide information of progress and current status of our understanding of this unique retrovirus from the pathogenic point of view, covering the following topics of HTLV-1 research: a new perspective of viral strategy for replication, genetic and epigenetic changes used by HTLV-1 for cell transformation leading to the clinical onset of ATL, and proposal of a disease entity among carriers that covers high risk state for ATL development. This review also includes a summary of the Japanese nationwide campaign against HTLV-1 infection.
The Research Topic welcomes Review articles and will help to understand the unanswered questions in the field of HTLV-1 and related diseases and provide future directions for HTLV-1 researchers.
Topic Editor Prof. Toshiki Watanabe has received a grant by company Solasia Pharma K.K. Topic Editor Prof. Renaud Mahieux declares no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
HTLV-1 was discovered about 40 years ago and is the only known oncogenic human retrovirus. HTLV-1 causes a neoplastic disease called adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), and several inflammatory diseases, that include HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), HTLV-1 uveitis and infective dermatitis. HTLV-1 was also found highly endemic among indigenous people in Australia and was shown to be associated with pulmonary diseases.
Intensive studies have been done to develop effective treatments for ATL, however, the survival period of aggressive type ATL, acute and lymphoma types, is still very short with chemotherapy.
For these reasons, allogeneic stem cell transplantation and anti-viral therapy with IFNa/AZT have been used. Now, some newly developed drugs are under clinical trials. In addition, treatments for other HTLV-1-related diseases are still very disappointing, however, new trials have been performed with promising results.
This Research Topic will provide information of progress and current status of our understanding of this unique retrovirus from the pathogenic point of view, covering the following topics of HTLV-1 research: a new perspective of viral strategy for replication, genetic and epigenetic changes used by HTLV-1 for cell transformation leading to the clinical onset of ATL, and proposal of a disease entity among carriers that covers high risk state for ATL development. This review also includes a summary of the Japanese nationwide campaign against HTLV-1 infection.
The Research Topic welcomes Review articles and will help to understand the unanswered questions in the field of HTLV-1 and related diseases and provide future directions for HTLV-1 researchers.
Topic Editor Prof. Toshiki Watanabe has received a grant by company Solasia Pharma K.K. Topic Editor Prof. Renaud Mahieux declares no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: New epidemiological data, expanding spectrum of pathogenicity, progress in knowledge of pathogenesis, genetic and epigenetic abnormalities and oncogenesis
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