Transcriptomic analysis of Jurkat T cells upon transient expression of HTLV-1a, -1b, -1c and STLV-1mac Tax proteins

Molecular analyses of Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) have historically focused on the Japanese strain HTLV-1aB-ATK. However, with the identification of endemic genotypes such as the transcontinental HTLV-1aTC, the major African subtype HTLV-1b, and the Australo-Melanesian subtype HTLV-1c, emerging clinical evidence have suggested that these genotypes may be associated with distinct risks of developing HTLV-1-associated diseases. Tax1a, one of the major viral oncoprotein encoded by HTLV-1a, displays pleiotropic functions, including the manipulation of signalling pathways and the transcriptomic reprogramming of infected cells. We hypothesize that Tax proteins from distinct viral genotypes might share some common transcriptional properties, but might also induce some specific transcriptional landscapes in host cells. In this study, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis of Jurkat T cells expressing HTLV-1a, -1b, -1c and STLV-1mac Tax proteins and highlighted commonalities and specificities in Tax-induced transcriptomic reprogramming.