Aspects of gastrointestinal immunology and nutrition in human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection in Brazil.
Mucosal surfaces have a fundamental participation in many aspects of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection pathogenesis. In Brazilian HIV-1 infected subjects, loss of weight and appetite are among the most debilitating symptoms. In this review we describe a defined mucosal immunogen that has profound but transient effects on HIV viral load, and we suggest that gut associated lymphoid tissue under constant immunostimulation is likely to provide a major contribution to the total levels of HIV. We also show that hypermetabolism appears to play a role in the wasting process in Brazilian patients coinfected with HIV and tuberculosis.
Castello-Branco
L R
LR
Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. branco@gene.dbbm.fiocruz.br
Ortigão-de-Sampaio
M B
MB
D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load; D015431:Weight Loss