title: CD4+ T cell depletion in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection: role of apoptosis.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is principally a mucosal disease and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the major site of HIV replication. Loss of CD4+ T cells and systemic immune hyperactivation are the hallmarks of HIV infection. The end of acute infection is associated with the emergence of specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses and the establishment of a chronic phase of infection. Abnormal levels of immune activation and inflammation persist despite a low steady state level of viremia. Although the causes of persistent immune hyperactivation remain incompletely characterized, physiological alterations of gastrointestinal tract probably play a major role. Failure to restore Th17 cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) might impair the recovery of the gut mucosal barrier. This review discusses recent advances on understanding the contribution of CD4+ T cell depletion to HIV pathogenesis.
authors: Unité Génomique Virale et Vaccination, CNRS URA3015, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75015 Paris, France. michele.fevrier@pasteur.fr
authors: Michèle
authors: M
authors: Février
authors: Karim
authors: K
authors: Dorgham
authors: Angelita
authors: A
authors: Rebollo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans