Moreover, in a short-term culture of PBMCs from HAM/TSP patients, HTLV-1-specific CTLs produce proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ and TNF-α, by recognizing HTLV-1 antigens expressed on autologous HTLV-1-infected cells during culture [14]. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and tropical spastic paraparesis.