Cellular and molecular interactions in HIV infections: a review.
OBJECTIVE
To review the cellular and molecular interactions between HIV and the host immune system that lead to full-blown AIDS.


METHODS
Published reports on HIV/host interaction during a fifteen year period beginning from 1987.


METHODS
Only those studies involving humans and non-human primates were selected. The studies included original articles and state-of-the-art reviews covering in vivo and in vitro findings.


METHODS
This article presents a critical review of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of HIV infection and their relationship to the onset of AIDS.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV has elaborated diverse and somewhat complicated mechanisms for the subversion and evasion of the host immune defence strategies. These include escape through mutation, prolonged latency of the infection, masking of the viral envelope proteins, down-regulation of MHC-I and up-regulation of the Fas-ligand on infected cell surfaces. This review enhances our understanding of HIV/AIDS disease and presents a basis on which management strategies could be developed.
Tumbo-Oeri
A G
AG
Department of Biochemistry, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya.
Omwandho
C A
CA
D000818:Animals; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D008967:Molecular Biology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015693:Gene Products, nef; D015696:Gene Products, tat; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus