Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis presentation of a human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 myelopathy--insight into pathogenesis

Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I Associated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Syndrome: Immunopathological Aspects and Treatment Options

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is a retrovirus related to infectious myelopathies, neoplasms, lymphomas, leukemias, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is acquired through sexual transmission, transfusion of blood products, and breastfeeding. The increased expression of human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) in the brain tissue of patients with ALS has been demonstrated, a finding that supports the relationship between the virus and this disease. Therapeutic options include supportive measures and symptomatic treatment with anti-inflammatory medications including steroids, cyclosporines, pentoxifylline, danazol, interferons, and vitamin C. New management proposals are being implemented with valproic acid that acts to facilitate the recognition of the virus by the immune system and with zidovudine antivirals focused on reducing viral load. The purpose of this paper is to describe a clinical case that exhibits clinical signs and evidence of motor neuron compromise as described in electrophysiology studies along with positive laboratory tests for the HTLV-I virus.

Infectious agents and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: another piece of the puzzle of motor neuron degeneration

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons (MN). This fatal disease is characterized by progressive muscle wasting and lacks an effective treatment. ALS pathogenesis has not been elucidated yet. In a small proportion of ALS patients, the disease has a familial origin, related to mutations in specific genes, which directly result in MN degeneration. By contrast, the vast majority of cases are though to be sporadic, in which genes and environment interact leading to disease in genetically predisposed individuals. Lately, the role of the environment has gained relevance in this field and an extensive list of environmental conditions have been postulated to be involved in ALS. Among them, infectious agents, particularly viruses, have been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. These agents could act by interacting with some crucial pathways in MN degeneration, such as gene processing, oxidative stress or neuroinflammation. In this article, we will review the main studies about the involvement of microorganisms in ALS, subsequently discussing their potential pathogenic effect and integrating them as another piece in the puzzle of ALS pathogenesis.

Antimicrobial Nanostructures for Neurodegenerative Infections

Nanostructures have been widely involved in changes in the drug delivery system. Nanoparticles have unique physicochemical properties, e.g., ultrasmall size, large surface area, and the ability to target specific actions. Various nanomaterials, like Ag, ZnO, Cu/CuO, and Al₂O₃, have antimicrobial activity. Basically, six mechanisms are involved in the production of antimicrobial activity, i.e., (1) destruction of the peptidoglycan layer, (2) release of toxic metal ions, (3) alteration of cellular pH via proton efflux pumps, (4) generation of reactive oxygen species, (5) damage of nuclear materials, and (6) loss of ATP production. Nanomedicine contributes to various pharmaceutical applications, like diagnosis and treatment of various ailments including microbial diseases. Furthermore, nanostructured antimicrobial agents are also involved in the treatment of the neuroinfections associated with neurodegenerative disorders. This chapter focuses on the nanostructure and nanomedicine of antimicrobial agents and their prospects for the possible management of infections associated with neurodegenerative disorders.