title: Mucosal immunity in HIV controllers: the right place at the right time.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The phenomenon of long-term nonprogression in HIV infection has been recognized for some time, and the ability of rare individuals, designated 'elite controllers', to control HIV in the absence of therapy is the focus of numerous ongoing studies. This review focuses on studies of HIV-specific immune responses in mucosal tissues as a potential correlate of immune control, with an emphasis on recently published work.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Genetic studies have implicated a role for elements localized to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 in the immune control of HIV infection. In parallel, functional studies have strongly implicated MHC class I-restricted, CD8+ T-cell responses as a major contributor to elite control. In addition, the localization of HIV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells with respect to the major sites of virus replication in the body may be critical in determining clinical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent findings suggest that MHC class I-restricted, CD8+ T cells are a major component of immune control in 'elite controllers'. In addition, the presence of these effector cells at or near critical viral reservoirs, such as mucosal tissues, may be critical in determining their effectiveness at limiting viral replication and dissemination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, USA. blshacklett@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Shacklett
authors.forename: April L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ferre
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D020276:HIV Long-Term Survivors; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I