title: Current concepts in clinical therapeutics: immunologic treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infections.
abstract: An overview of the immune system is presented, and the pathogenesis, transmission, diagnostic tests, diagnosis, immunotherapy, and vaccine development for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are reviewed. More than 42,000 cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have now been reported in the United States, and an additional 250,000 cases are expected by 1991. The immunopathogenesis of HIV infection involves both cellular and humoral components of the immune system, with a characteristic depletion of helper T lymphocytes, impaired delayed hypersensitivity, and polyclonal B-cell activation. Monocytes and macrophages are also infected, and these cells provide a transport mechanism into the central nervous system. HIV is transmitted primarily by sexual, blood, and perinatal mechanisms. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent and Western blot assays are used in diagnostic tests, and diagnosis of AIDS is based on the presence of secondary infection or tumor at least moderately indicative of cellular immune deficiency in the absence of predisposing factors. Three approaches are being tested for treating HIV infection: immunomodulators, vaccines, and antiviral agents. Immunomodulators--including interferons, interleukin-2, immune reconstitution with bone-marrow transplantation and lymphocyte transfusions, transfer factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, inosine pranobex (isoprinosine), and naltrexone--are being tested with no great successes. Various approaches to vaccine development, including genetically engineered subunit proteins, synthetic peptides, and infectious recombinant viruses, are being considered. Primary immune responses do result from at least one vaccine. Future studies will evaluate combination approaches to therapy. HIV infections confront the health-care system with a serious challenge. It is too early to assess the effectiveness of the various therapeutic strategies for immune deficiencies caused by HIV.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D014612:Vaccines; D007372:Interferons