Cell death in HIV pathogenesis and its modulation by retinoids.
Patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus exhibit a progressive decline in the CD4 T-cell number, resulting in immunodeficiency and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignancies. Although CD4 T cell production is impaired in patients infected with HIV, there is now increasing evidence that the primary basis of T cell depletion is accelerated apoptosis of CD4 and CD8 T cells. The rate of lymphocyte apoptosis in HIV infection correlates inversely with the progression of the disease: it is low in long-term progressors and in patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy. Interestingly, only a minor fraction of apoptotic lymphocytes are infected by HIV, indicating that the enhanced apoptosis does not necessarily always serve to remove the HIV+ cells and results from mechanisms other than direct infection. Thus, understanding and influencing the mechanisms of HIV-associated lymphocyte apoptosis may lead to new therapies for HIV disease. In this paper the potential effects of retinoids on CD4 T cell apoptosis is discussed.
Szondy
Z
Z
Department of Biochemistry and MolecularBiology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
Tóth
R
R
Szegezdi
E
E
Reichert
U
U
Ancian
P
P
Fésüs
L
L
D017209:Apoptosis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012176:Retinoids / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins
D012176:Retinoids; D014764:Viral Proteins