The role of cytokines in the pathogenesis and treatment of HIV infection

Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2012 Aug-Oct;23(4-5):207-14. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2012.05.007. Epub 2012 Jun 26.

Abstract

HIV immune activation plays an important role in the immunopathogenesis of the disease. The mechanisms driving this immune activation are partially defined and likely are the result of multiple factors. The introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has improved the life expectancy of HIV infected individuals, however there is evidence that in the setting of "undetectable" HIV-RNA plasma levels, there is some level of persistent immune activation in these patients. A better understanding of the immune activation pathways should be of value in developing complementary therapies to restore the immune systems of patients with HIV infection. This review discusses the cytokine mediated pathways of immune activation of the CD4 and CD8 T cell pools during HIV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Cytokines / therapeutic use
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / drug effects
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Viral Load / drug effects
  • Viral Load / immunology

Substances

  • Cytokines