Human T-mobile Leicemia type 1 (HTLV-1) is capable of suppressing its activity and hiding from the immune system. This conclusion was researchers from the University of Kumamoto. Their work results were published in the Nature Microbiology (NATM) magazine.
HTLV-1 is a Retrovirus responsible for the development of adult T-mobile Leukemia / Lymphoma (ATL). Although most infected people never develop the disease, the virus can stay in the body for decades, hidden in the body. In this condition, it integrates into the GENOMY of the Lord and is practically not manifested, avoiding the immune response.
The research team led by Professor Erifumum Sato found that a certain part of the virus genome was responsible for this "invisibility." It captures mobile transcription factors, including RUNX1 protein complex, which suppress the expression of viral genes. If this passage is removed or damaged, the virus becomes more active, its genes are joined, and the immune system is able to recognize and eliminate it. This effect has been confirmed during experiments on laboratory animals.
In additional studies, scientists have moved the HTLV-1 silent element to a human immune deficiency virus (HIV-1) genome and observed a weakening of its activity. According to researchers, this opens new prospects for the development of new therapeutic approaches against HIV infection.
"We first found that HTLV-1 has its own genetic mechanism to suppress its activity," explains Professor Sato. "This is a delicate evolutionary strategy that allows the virus to survive in the body. The understanding of this mechanism can change the ways not only to fight Leukemia, but also to combat other retroviruses. "
Translation of: Euromedia24.com
