title: T memory stem cells and HIV: a long-term relationship.
abstract: In analogy to many tissues in which mature, terminally differentiated cells are continuously replenished by the progeny of less differentiated, long-lasting stem cells, it has been suspected that memory T lymphocytes might contain small numbers of stem cell-like cells. However, only recently have such cells been physically identified and isolated from humans, mice, and nonhuman primates. These cells, termed "T memory stem cells" (TSCM), represent approximately 2-4 % of all circulating T lymphocytes, seem to be extremely durable, and can rapidly differentiate into more mature central memory, effector memory, and effector T cells, while maintaining their own pool size through homeostatic self-renewal. Although it is becoming increasingly evident that that these cells have critical roles for T cell homeostasis and maintaining life-long cellular immunity against microbial pathogens during physiological conditions, they also seem intrinsically involved in many key aspects of HIV/SIV disease pathogenesis. Current data suggest that CD4+ TSCM cells represent a core element of the HIV-1 reservoir in patients treated with suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) and that relative resistance of CD4+ TSCM cells to SIV represents a distinguishing feature of non-pathogenic SIV infection in natural hosts. This article summarizes recent studies investigating the role of TSCM in HIV/SIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA, ann.m.chahroudi@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chahroudi
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lichterfeld
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000821:virology; D056189:Viral Tropism
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents