Persistent Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) Infection in the Placenta of Pregnant Women.

ABSTRACT: Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is the primary route of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. Although formula feeding reduces breastfeeding-associated transmission, MTCT still occurs, implicating pregnancy or delivery as key transmission windows. In this study, placental tissues from nine HTLV-1-positive mothers were analyzed using DNA/RNAscope, revealing low HTLV-1 DNA and RNA levels and a low RNA/DNA ratio, consistent with latent infection in the placenta and potentially explaining the low MTCT rate. Elevated interferon (IFN)-β levels were observed in infected placentas compared to seronegative controls, while IFNα, IFNγ, and IFITM expression remained unchanged. Concurrently, sustained IFNβ expression in infected placentas suggests its dual roles in HTLV-1 pathogenes

SUBMITTER: Prates G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12412083 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature