High proviral load of human T cell lymphotropic virus type-1 facilitates coronary artery diseases

Abstract

Objectives: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is known as a life threatening disease, worldwide. In this study the role of HTLV-1 infection was evaluated on cardiac involvement in an endemic region of northeastern Iran.

Materials and methods: Serologic and molecular tests for HTLV-1 infection were carried out in subjects who had coronary angiography. A real-time PCR, TaqMan method, to quantify HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL), and routine hematological and biochemical tests were performed for study subjects.

Results: Twenty nine patients were HTLV-1+CAD+ and 13 cases were HTLV-1+CAD-. Although, there were no significant differences for risk factors like FBS, HDL, triglyceride, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Cbp, Dbp), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (WL), cholesterol (P=0.003), and LDL (P=0.007) levels, and monocyte count (P=0.05) had meaningful differences. The mean HTLV-1 PVL in HTLV-1+CAD+ subjects was 992.62±120 which was higher compared with HTLV-1+CAD- group (406.54±302 copies/104 PBMCs). Moreover, HTLV-1 PVL in males (833±108) was lower compared with females (1218±141 copies/104 PBMCs) (P=0.05). Patients with HTLV-1-PVL of more than 500 copies/104 had more diffused atherosclerosis plaque than patients with less than 500 (OR=6.87, 95% CI=1.34-35.05; P=0.016). Furthermore, patients with diffused coronary atherosclerosis had significantly higher levels of HTLV-1 PVL than patients with middle, proximal, and normal location of coronary sclerotic lesions (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Taken together, in endemic area, HTLV-1 infection, more likely is a facilitating factor for heart complications and the high HTLV-1 PVL might affect CAD manifestations.

Keywords: Cardiac involvement; Coronary artery disease; HTLV-1; HTLV-1 Proviral load; Real-time PCR.

Figure 1.

The study flowchart of sampling

Figure 2

The amount of HTLV-1 proviral loads and atherosclerosis diffusion. Proviral load of more than 500 strongly affects atherosclerosis diffusion. PVL presented as copies /104 PBMCs

Figure 3

Association between coronary artery involvement and HTLV-1 proviral load. LCX (left circumflex artery), LAD (left anterior descending coronary artery), and RCA (right coronary artery). Proviral load presented as HTLV-1 proviral copies /104 PBMCs

Figure 4

The effect of HTLV-1 proviral load on localization of the sclerotic lesions in patients with different involvements of coronary vessels: LCX (left circumflex artery), LAD (left anterior descending coronary artery), and RCA (right coronary artery)