Abstract
Purpose:
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) infection affects ocular tolerance, which causes various eye diseases. Most studies have not focused on the effect of HTLV-1 infection to ocular tissues, although the infection has an intimate involvement in HTLV-1 related eye diseases. In this study, we investigate the inflammatory change that caused by HTLV-1 infection to the retinal epithelium (RPE) cells.
Methods:
HTLV-1 producing T cell line (MT2) and RPE cell line (ARPE-19) were co-cultured via direct contact or indirect contact methods. The efficiency of HTLV-1 infection was determined by real-time PCR. The production of inflammatory cytokines/ chemokines was measured by Cytometric Beads Array.
Results:
In RPE cells, HTLV-1 infection could be established even through indirect contact with HTLV-1 producing T cells. Induction of IL-6 and IL-8 were seen in both direct contact and indirect contact infection, but IL-10, TNF-alpha, IL-1β, and IL-12p70 were not secreted. Chemokines such as MCP-1 and RANTES were detected in direct contact and indirect contact, but IL-10 production was seen only through direct contact.<br /> <br />
Conclusions:
HTLV-1 infection to the RPE cells induces inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which can result in intraocular inflammation. This mechanism may contribute to the pathogenesis of HTLV-1 uveitis.