HIV and CXCR4 in a kiss of autophagic death.
AIDS is characterized by CD4+ T lymphocyte depletion, yet the mechanisms underlying this central aspect of HIV pathogenesis are still poorly understood. In this issue of the JCI, Espert et al. identify a mechanism by which the HIV envelope glycoprotein can induce death in uninfected CD4+ T cells (see the related article beginning on page 2161). The HIV envelope glycoprotein interacts with CXC chemokine receptor 4 to activate the lysosomal degradation pathway of autophagy, which is necessary for both apoptotic and nonapoptotic cell death.
Levine
Beth
B
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9113, USA. beth.levine@utsouthwestern.edu
Sodora
Donald L
DL
D001343:Autophagy; D016923:Cell Death; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000502:physiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D015686:Gene Products, env