Macrophages: do they impact AIDS progression more than CD4 T cells?
Destruction of CD4(+) T cells is considered to be the main cause of immunodeficiency manifested by opportunistic infections in HIV-1-infected humans, as well as in SIV-infected macaques. We propose that monocyte/macrophage lineage cells also play an important role in the pathogenesis of AIDS, based on our recent work with the SIV/rhesus macaque animal model. We propose that damage to CD4(+) T cells is important and readily apparent, but damage to monocyte/macrophage lineage cells, although less obvious, may provide the missing link to predict the onset of opportunistic infections and progression to AIDS.
Kuroda
Marcelo J
MJ
Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Science Center, Covington, Louisiana 70433, USA. mkuroda@tulane.edu
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity