Possible mechanisms underlying the association between human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and hypertension in elderly Japanese population

• Yuji Shimizu

• Kazuhiko Arima

• Yuko Noguchi

• Shin-Ya Kawashiri

• Hirotomo Yamanashi

• Mami Tamai

• Yasuhiro Nagata

• Takahiro Maeda

Abstract

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) activates inflammatory cascades by activating the NF-κB pathway. The minor allele of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in breast cancer suppressor BRCA1 - associated protein (BRAP), which has a common etiology with HTLV-1 infection, has been reported to be positively associated with carotid atherosclerosis, but inversely associated with hypertension. Therefore, HTLV-1 infection may be inversely associated with hypertension by activating endothelial maintenance, including atherosclerosis. To clarify these associations, a cross-sectional study was conducted using 2989 Japanese individuals aged 60–99 years participating in a general health check-up. Logistic regression models were used to clarify the association between HTLV-1 and hypertension. Platelet levels stratified analyses were also performed since platelet production, which plays a crucial role in endothelium maintenance, can be stimulated by activating the NF-κB pathway. HTLV-1 infection was found to be significantly inversely associated with hypertension, particularly in subjects with high platelet levels (≥ second tertiles of platelet levels); the fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 0.75 (0.62, 0.92) for total and 0.64 (0.50, 0.82) for high platelet levels, respectively. Further analysis of the non-hypertensive subjects demonstrated that HTLV-1 infection was significantly positively associated with atherosclerosis in subjects with the highest tertile of platelet levels (2.11 [1.15, 3.86]) but not in subjects with low platelet levels (first and second tertiles of platelet level) (0.89 [0.57, 1.39]). Asymptomatic HTLV-1 infection is inversely associated with hypertension, possibly by activating endothelial maintenance, including atherosclerosis progression.

Journal

• Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine

  Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 26 (1), 17-, 2021-01-29

  Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Keywords

• Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
• General Medicine

Details

• CRID: 1360286996841965440
• NII Article ID: 210000158825
• DOI: 10.1186/s12199-021-00938-0
• ISSN: 13474715
• ISSN: 1342078X
• Web Site: http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12199-021-00938-0.pdf
• Web Site: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12199-021-00938-0/fulltext.html
• Data Source:
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN