While these data support an important protective role for the CD8+ Tcell immune response with the potential for viral control, other studies suggestthat HTLV-1-specific CD8+ T cells may paradoxically contribute tothe neuromuscular immunopathology through autoimmune mechanisms, leading to theclinical manifestation of HAM/TSP [18]. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is tropical spastic paraparesis.