Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)–associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is chronic myelopathy characterized by slowly progressive spastic paraparesis and urinary dysfunction. A few biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid are known to be related to disease activity, but no biomarker has been reported in peripheral blood. This study aims to explore the expression level of the adhesion molecule during the expression level of the adhesion molecule among HAM/TSP disease activity. In lymphocyte function–associated antigen 1 and DNAX accessory molecule 1, no variation in expression levels specific to HTLV-1 infection was observed in CD4-positive T cells; however, TSLC1 expression was higher in HAM patients than in asymptomatic carriers and non-infected persons. TSLC1 tended to be higher in patients whose symptoms were worsening. On the contrary, the expression level of TSLC1 in CD8-positive T cells was lower in HAM patients than in asymptomatic carriers, and this tendency was stronger in patients whose symptoms had deteriorated. No significant correlation was found between TSLC1 and either of the transcription factors Tax or HBZ in any T cell group. Therefore, TSLC1 expression in CD4-positive T cells might be a useful biomarker of HAM/TSP disease activity.

与人类T型淋巴病毒1型（HTLV-1）相关的脊髓病/热带痉挛性轻瘫（HAM / TSP）是一种慢性脊髓病，其特征是缓慢进行性痉挛性轻瘫和尿路功能障碍。已知脑脊液中的一些生物标志物与疾病活动有关，但尚未报道外周血中的生物标志物。本研究旨在探讨HAM / TSP疾病活动中粘附分子表达水平的表达水平。在淋巴细胞功能相关抗原1和DNAX辅助分子1中，在CD4阳性T细胞中未观察到特异于HTLV-1感染的表达水平变化。但是，HAM患者中TSLC1的表达高于无症状携带者和未感染者。症状恶化的患者中TSLC1倾向于升高。相反，HAM患者中CD8阳性T细胞中TSLC1的表达水平低于无症状携带者，并且这种趋势在症状恶化的患者中更强。在任何T细胞组中，TSLC1与转录因子Tax或HBZ之间均未发现显着相关性。因此，CD4阳性T细胞中TSLC1的表达可能是HAM / TSP疾病活性的有用生物标记。