[The monocyte-macrophage system and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)].
The pathogenesis of HIV infection and the definition of the cell types target of HIV is the crucial background for the improvement of the therapeutic strategies against HIV infection. Monocyte-macrophages (M/M) are easily infected by HIV, and play a crucial role in the maintenance and the progression of HIV-related disease; HIV infection of M/M is the principal cause of HIV-related "dementia complex". Thus it is crucial that drugs used in the therapy of HIV infection are active against HIV replicating in cells of M/M lineage. In this paper the interaction between HIV and M/M is analyzed and the characteristics of viral replication in these cells, and the in vitro antiviral activity of several drugs in M/M are discussed. These data suggest that patients should be treated with drugs, that inhibit HIV also in M/M and, consequently, are able to block the clinical manifestations related to M/M infection, such as "dementia complex".
Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Biologia Cellulare, Università degli Studi di Roma, Tor Vergata.
L
L
Ercoli
C F
CF
Perno
A
A
Bergamini
G
G
Rocchi
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000998:Antiviral Agents
Sistema monocito-macrofagico e sindrome da immunodeficienza acquisita (AIDS).