“…However, subsequent research has suggested Tax-independent secretion of VEGF 57 , 58 , and no significant differences were found in VEGF levels between HAM/TSP, ATLL, and healthy or asymptomatic carriers 59 , 60 . Furthermore, a recent study revealed a lack of efficacy of intraocular anti-VEGF antibody treatment on activated NF-κB, inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, and HTLV-1 proviral load 61 . The VEGF-A splice variant VEGF 165 is a ligand of the HTLV-1 receptor Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), and HTLV-1 mimics VEGF 165 to recruit HSPGs and NRP-1 62 .…”