We recently investigated the temporal sequence of HTLV-1 gene expression using splice site-specific Real Time RT-PCR in an ex vivo virus reactivation model based on the depletion of CD8+ T cells from unstimulated PBMCs isolated from HTLV-1-infected patients (ATLL and TSP/HAM) [62]. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is tropical spastic paraparesis.