Recombinant HTLV-1 Envelope

Source : The E.Coli derived recombinant protein contains the C- terminus of gp46 and most of p21E of HTLV-1. This non-fusion, E. coli-derived protein, starts from HIV-1 env. Amino acid 165, and is ending in amino acid 440, Mw 27 kDa. Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a human, single-stranded RNA retrovirus that causes T-cell leukemia and T-cell lymphoma. The virus activates a subset of T-helper cellscalled Th1cells. The result is a proliferation of Th1 cells and overproduction of Th1 related cytokines (mainly IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha) . Feedback mechanisms of these cytokines cause a suppression of the Th2 lymphocytes and a reduction of Th2 cytokine production (mainly IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and IL-13) . The end result is a reduction in the ability of the infected host to mount an adequate immune response to invading organisms that require a predominantly Th2 dependant response (these include parasitic infections and production of mucosal and humoral antibodies) .