Background and Aims: Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a member of retroviridae family that causes ATL and HAM/TSP. Many inflammatory diseases are associated with this virus, such as Sjögren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Uveitis and also Atherosclerosis. HTLV-1 performs in long latency period and can activate the immune responses in coronary vessels. Activated immune system produces inflammatory factors such as TNF-α cytokine that can increase Matrix Metalloproteinases as a main factor in patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD). We aimed to determine the relation between this virus infection and MMP-3 expression in Atherosclerosis patients.
Materials and Methods: 44 patients (13 individuals CAD+ HTLV-1+, 8 individuals CAD- HTLV-1+, 13 individuals CAD+ HTLV-1-      and 10 individuals CAD- HTLV-1-) were selected and MMP-3 gene expression was measured by Real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: There was no significant correlation between MMP-3 gene expression and HTLV-1 expression level in HTLV-1-positive cardiac and Atherosclerosis patients.