Journal article

Immunophenotype and proviral landscape of HTLV-1c infection and pulmonary disease

A Hirons, N Jansz, G Khoury, P Ellenberg, S Collins, J Cooney, J Zaunders, L Williams, KN Nair, AH Yiing Yap, N Hirons, L Mackiewicz, M Dayton, L Wang, D Sijmons, MR Talukder, AH Vickas, AW Chung, M Doerflinger, M Pellegrini Show all

Ebiomedicine | Published : 2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2026.106403

Open access

Abstract

Background: Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) integrates into host DNA, resulting in life-long infection that underlies malignancy, inflammatory disease, and early all-cause mortality. HTLV-1 subtype-C endures as an endemic infection in Central Australia, and is associated with pulmonary disease. The cellular and viral features driving HTLV-1c pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Methods: We recruited a cohort of 41 First Nations participants from Alice Springs Hospital in Central Australia. We analysed plasma biomarker sVCAM1, and three circulating CD4+ T-cell phenotypes by flow cytometry: Lung-homing (TLH, CCR4+CC49d+Integrinβ7−), regulatory T-cells (TREG, CCR4+CD49d−CD127−) and CCR4..

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Keywords

3207 Medical Microbiology
Lung
32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
3204 Immunology
2.1 Biological and Endogenous Factors
Defective and Chimeric Provirus
Biotechnology
Rare Diseases
3 Good Health and Well Being
Lung-Homing Cd4+ T-Cells
Infectious Diseases
Htlv-1
Bronchiectasis
Genetics
2.2 Factors Relating To the Physical Environment
Infection