Fig. 1

Age and gender differentially affect cytokines and chronic inflammation marker GlycA in people living with HTLV-1, independent of proviral load. A IL-6 levels are significantly correlated with age at sampling in all PLHTLV-1, driven by the strong correlation in asymptomatic individuals (AS) (B), which is absent in HAM/TSP patients (C). D IL-10 levels are significantly correlated with age at sampling in all PLHTLV-1, driven by the strong correlation in AS (E), which is absent in HAM/TSP patients (F). G GlycA levels are significantly higher in female PLHTLV-1 (p = 0.0069, Mann–Whitney test). H GlycA levels are positively correlated with IL-6 levels in AS only (p = 0.00049, r = 0.45). I Proviral load is not significantly correlated with IL-6 (ρ = 0.07, p = 0.45) or GlycA levels (ρ = − 0.06, p = 0.72) in PLHTLV-1, while a tendency is observed for IFN-γ (ρ = 0.20, p = 0.054). Correlation is determined using Spearman’s method, uncorrected p values are reported, significant correlations of IL-6 with age and with GlycA were robust to correction for multiple testing (Bonferroni p < 0.05)