Does HIV cause depletion of CD4+ T cells in vivo by the induction of apoptosis?
The central pathogenic feature of AIDS is the dramatic loss of CD4+ lymphocytes. Despite more than a decade of intense research, the exact mechanism by which HIV causes this is still not understood. A major model for T cell depletion, proposed originally by Ameison and Capron in a report published in 1991, is that HIV sensitizes CD4+ T cells for activation-induced apoptosis. The apoptotic model of T cell depletion is discussed, and experiments that address the questions of whether apoptosis is restricted to infected cells or 'bystander' T cells, and whether T cell apoptosis requires participation of separate HIV-infected haematopoietic cell populations, are reviewed.
Jaworowski
A
A
AIDS Pathogenesis Research Unit, Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research, National Centre for HIV Virology Research, Fairfield, Victoria, Australia. anthonyj@burnet.edu.au
Crowe
S M
SM
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor