Human T-lymphotropic virus 2
Encyclopedia
A virus closely related to HTLV-I, Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 (HTLV-II) shares approximately 70% genomic homology (structural similarity) with HTLV-I.
It is found predominantly in IV drug users and Native Americans
, as well as Caribbean
and South American Indian groups.
HTLV-II entry in target cells is mediated by the glucose transporter GLUT1
.
/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)- like neurological disease.
An impact on platelet count has been observed.
In the 1980s, HTLV-2 was identified in a patient with an unidentified T cell lymphoproliferative disease that was described as having characteristics similar to the B cell disorder, hairy cell leukemia
. HTLV-2 was identified in a second patient with a T cell lymphoproliferative disease; this patient later developed hairy cell leukemia, but HTLV-2 was not found in the hairy cell clones. The cause of hairy cell leukemia is not known, but it is no longer believed to be related to viral infections.
It is found predominantly in IV drug users and Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, as well as Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and South American Indian groups.
HTLV-II entry in target cells is mediated by the glucose transporter GLUT1
GLUT1
Glucose transporter 1 , also known as solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter member 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC2A1 gene...
.
Clinical significance
HTLV-II has not been clearly linked to any disease, but has been associated with several cases of myelopathyMyelopathy
Myelopathy refers to pathology of the spinal cord. When due to trauma, it is known as spinal cord injury. When inflammatory, it is known as myelitis. Disease that is vascular in nature is known as vascular myelopathy....
/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)- like neurological disease.
An impact on platelet count has been observed.
In the 1980s, HTLV-2 was identified in a patient with an unidentified T cell lymphoproliferative disease that was described as having characteristics similar to the B cell disorder, hairy cell leukemia
Hairy cell leukemia
Hairy cell leukemia is an uncommon hematological malignancy characterized by an accumulation of abnormal B lymphocytes. It is usually classified as a sub-type of chronic lymphoid leukemia...
. HTLV-2 was identified in a second patient with a T cell lymphoproliferative disease; this patient later developed hairy cell leukemia, but HTLV-2 was not found in the hairy cell clones. The cause of hairy cell leukemia is not known, but it is no longer believed to be related to viral infections.