Macrophage-tropic HIV: critical for AIDS pathogenesis?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) occurs as a number of genetic and biological variants. Of these, transmission of macrophage-tropic HIV variants appears to be favored, although most infected individuals also harbor T-cell-tropic cytopathic viruses and macrophage-tropic non-cytopathic viruses. Recent evidence regarding CD4+ T-cell depletion in vivo suggests that macrophage-tropic HIV isolates may be necessary and sufficient for the development of AIDS. This review summarizes the recent findings on macrophage-tropic viruses, and compares matched sets of experiments in HIV-infected humanized severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice with a computer simulation of the lymph node microenvironment. This may help to understand why HIV infection of macrophages may have profound effects on the immune system.
Mosier
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D
Dept of Immunology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Sieburg
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H
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006678:HIV / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology