Association of IL-۱۰ Gene Polymorphisms and Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type I-Associated Myelopathy/tropical Spastic Paraparesis in North-East of Iran (Mashhad)

  The underlying mechanisms leading to the development of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in HTLV-I infected individuals are not fully understood. Host genetic factors appear to be involved as risk factors for developing HAM/TSP. We investigated the possible contribution of interleukin-۱۰ (IL-۱۰) as a risk factor to HAM/TSP by comparing frequencies of promoter region single nucleotide polymorphisms in HTLV-I infected Iranian patients who either remained asymptomatic or developed HAM/TSP and asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers. Healthy, uninfected individuals from the same region served as healthy controls. Significant differences were observed in the distribution of IL-۱۰ promoter alleles and genotypes at position -۸۱۹ and -۵۹۲ between HAM/TSP patients and healthy controls (P=۰.۰۱), and between HTLV-I carriers and healthy controls (P=۰.۰۲). The frequency of the low IL-۱۰ producer haplotype (-۱۰۸۲*A, -۸۱۹*T, -۵۹۲*A) was significantly associated with HTLV-I carriage or HAM/TSP compared with healthy controls (P= ۰.۰۲ and ۰.۰۱, respectively). Our results suggest that IL-۱۰ -۸۱۹*T and -۵۹۲*A alleles are significant risk factors for developing HTLLV-I infection but do not appear to convey additional risk for developing HAM/TSP