title: HIV/SIV escape from immune surveillance: focus on Nef.
abstract: During a progressive HIV-1 infection, the gradual decrease in functional CD4+ T(helper) cells leads to immunodeficiency and eventually death in the untreated patient. The virulence role of the lentiviral accessory gene nef was first reported from deletion studies in the macaque model, and research during the past decade has revealed a pluripotent protein capable of multiple points of interference with cellular mechanisms. Importantly, Nef has the capacity to modify the plasma membrane signalling by regulation of receptor/ligand endocytosis as well as to modulate cellular regulation such as apoptosis and lymphocyte activation. This effective defence against an apparent vigorous and specific immune response is crucial for the ability of HIV-1 to persist in the host. Here we review the multitude of functions exerted by Nef and discuss the functional domains of the protein in terms of cellular interaction partners and the effect of nef mutations in the course of AIDS disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Q, Skejby Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tolstrup
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ostergaard
authors.forename: Alex L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Laursen
authors.forename: Skou Finn
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Mogens
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000502:physiology; D017209:Apoptosis; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D015754:Genes, nef; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015693:Gene Products, nef; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus