Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1: oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategies
The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a highly oncogenic retrovirus recognized as the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Among the key risk factors for ATLL development are high proviral l...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1587802/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849405237007220736 |
|---|---|
| author | Jorge Vasconez-Gonzalez Isaac A. Suárez-Sangucho Esteban Acosta-Muñoz Luis Paz y Miño Domenic Borja-Mendoza John Altamirano Alexander-Castillo Julia Saa Natasha Salazar-Calvopiña Paúl Cárdenas Andrés López-Cortés Esteban Ortiz-Prado |
| author_facet | Jorge Vasconez-Gonzalez Isaac A. Suárez-Sangucho Esteban Acosta-Muñoz Luis Paz y Miño Domenic Borja-Mendoza John Altamirano Alexander-Castillo Julia Saa Natasha Salazar-Calvopiña Paúl Cárdenas Andrés López-Cortés Esteban Ortiz-Prado |
| author_sort | Jorge Vasconez-Gonzalez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a highly oncogenic retrovirus recognized as the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Among the key risk factors for ATLL development are high proviral load, reduced anti-Tax immune responses, and elevated levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor. Unlike classical oncogenic viruses, HTLV-1 does not encode proto-oncogenes but instead drives cellular transformation through a combination of mechanisms, including viral gene dysregulation, chromatin remodeling, epigenetic reprogramming, persistent clonal expansion, immune evasion, and RNA-based modifications. Despite growing understanding of these molecular pathways, an effective prophylactic vaccine against HTLV-1 remains unavailable. However, several vaccine strategies including viral vector platforms, mRNA-based candidates, peptide vaccines, and dendritic cell-based approaches have shown promise in preclinical models. In this review, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on HTLV-1 oncogenesis, highlight the roles of viral proteins such as Tax and HBZ in immune evasion, and critically examine the state of vaccine development efforts aimed at controlling this neglected human retrovirus. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2e9df2d124ef41f2ad0c990f928f58df |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2235-2988 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-2e9df2d124ef41f2ad0c990f928f58df2025-08-20T03:36:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-08-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.15878021587802Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1: oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategiesJorge Vasconez-Gonzalez0Isaac A. Suárez-Sangucho1Esteban Acosta-Muñoz2Luis Paz y Miño3Domenic Borja-Mendoza4John Altamirano Alexander-Castillo5Julia Saa6Natasha Salazar-Calvopiña7Paúl Cárdenas8Andrés López-Cortés9Esteban Ortiz-Prado10One Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, EcuadorOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, EcuadorOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, EcuadorOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, EcuadorOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, EcuadorOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, EcuadorOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, EcuadorOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, EcuadorInstitute of Microbiology, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, EcuadorCancer Research Group (CRG), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, EcuadorOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, EcuadorThe human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a highly oncogenic retrovirus recognized as the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Among the key risk factors for ATLL development are high proviral load, reduced anti-Tax immune responses, and elevated levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor. Unlike classical oncogenic viruses, HTLV-1 does not encode proto-oncogenes but instead drives cellular transformation through a combination of mechanisms, including viral gene dysregulation, chromatin remodeling, epigenetic reprogramming, persistent clonal expansion, immune evasion, and RNA-based modifications. Despite growing understanding of these molecular pathways, an effective prophylactic vaccine against HTLV-1 remains unavailable. However, several vaccine strategies including viral vector platforms, mRNA-based candidates, peptide vaccines, and dendritic cell-based approaches have shown promise in preclinical models. In this review, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on HTLV-1 oncogenesis, highlight the roles of viral proteins such as Tax and HBZ in immune evasion, and critically examine the state of vaccine development efforts aimed at controlling this neglected human retrovirus.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1587802/fullHTLV-1human T-cell leukemia virus type 1oncogenesisviral oncogenesimmune evasionretrovirus |
| spellingShingle | Jorge Vasconez-Gonzalez Isaac A. Suárez-Sangucho Esteban Acosta-Muñoz Luis Paz y Miño Domenic Borja-Mendoza John Altamirano Alexander-Castillo Julia Saa Natasha Salazar-Calvopiña Paúl Cárdenas Andrés López-Cortés Esteban Ortiz-Prado Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1: oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategies Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology HTLV-1 human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 oncogenesis viral oncogenes immune evasion retrovirus |
| title | Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1: oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategies |
| title_full | Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1: oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategies |
| title_fullStr | Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1: oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1: oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategies |
| title_short | Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1: oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategies |
| title_sort | human t cell leukemia virus type 1 oncogenic potential and vaccine development strategies |
| topic | HTLV-1 human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 oncogenesis viral oncogenes immune evasion retrovirus |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1587802/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jorgevasconezgonzalez humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies AT isaacasuarezsangucho humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies AT estebanacostamunoz humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies AT luispazymino humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies AT domenicborjamendoza humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies AT johnaltamiranoalexandercastillo humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies AT juliasaa humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies AT natashasalazarcalvopina humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies AT paulcardenas humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies AT andreslopezcortes humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies AT estebanortizprado humantcellleukemiavirustype1oncogenicpotentialandvaccinedevelopmentstrategies |