Development of a Monoclonal Antibody Targeting HTLV-1 Envelope gp46 Glycoprotein and Its Application to Near-Infrared Photoimmuno-Antimicrobial Strategy

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a retrovirus, causes adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma, HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, and HTLV-1 uveitis. Currently, no antiretroviral therapies or vaccines are available for HTLV-1 infection. This study aimed to develop an antibody against the HTLV-1 envelope protein (Env) and apply it to a near-infrared photoimmuno-antimicrobial strategy (NIR-PIAS) to eliminate HTLV-1 infected cells. We established mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against HTLV-1 Env by immunization with a complex of liposome and the recombinant protein. Detailed epitope mapping revealed that one of the mAbs bound to the proline-rich region of gp46 and exhibited no obvious neutralizing activity to inhibit viral infection. Instead, the mAb was rarely internalized intracellularly and remained on the cell surface of HTLV-1-infected cells. The antibody conjugated to the photosensitive dye IRDye700Dx recognized HTLV-1 infected cells and killed them following NIR irradiation. These results suggest that the novel mAb and NIR-PIAS could be developed as a new targeted therapeutic tool against HTLV-1 infected cells.