CD4+ T-cell depletion in HIV infection: killed by friendly fire?
Recent studies have emphasized the role of a chronic, generalized activation of the immune system as a prominent cause of CD4+ T-cell depletion in HIV-infected patients. The HIV-induced immune activation is a strong predictor of disease progression in humans, and lack of immune activation is a key feature of nonpathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of natural hosts. The mechanisms by which immune activation induces CD4+ T-cell depletion are still incompletely understood, but likely involve changes in the complex dynamics of the naive, memory, and effector subsets of T cells. A better understanding of how HIV-induced immune activation leads to CD4+ T-cell depletion may provide new targets for immune-based interventions that could be used, in addition to standard antiretroviral therapy, to slow disease progression in HIV-infected individuals.
Moanna
Abeer
A
Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Dunham
Richard
R
Paiardini
Mirko
M
Silvestri
Guido
G
D000818:Animals; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology