Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL) arises from chronic non-malignant human T lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection which is characterized by high plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines whereas ATL is characterized by high plasma anti-inflammatory (IL-10) concentrations.
IL-10-mediated signals act as a switch for lymphoproliferation in Human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 infection by activating the STAT3 and IRF4 pathways.
"The combination of arsenic, interferon-alpha, and zidovudine restores an ""immunocompetent-like"" cytokine expression profile in patients with adult T-cell leukemia lymphoma."
IL-10 protein was also detected in the culture medium of leukemic cells from ATL patients as well as these HTLV-I-infected cell lines, and in the extracellular fluids of ATL patients.