HIV preferentially infects HIV-specific CD4+ T cells

DC Douek, JM Brenchley, MR Betts, DR Ambrozak… - Nature, 2002 - nature.com
DC Douek, JM Brenchley, MR Betts, DR Ambrozak, BJ Hill, Y Okamoto, JP Casazza…
Nature, 2002nature.com
HIV infection is associated with the progressive loss of CD4+ T cells through their
destruction or decreased production,. A central, yet unresolved issue of HIV disease is the
mechanism for this loss, and in particular whether HIV-specific CD4+ T cells are
preferentially affected,,. Here we show that HIV-specific memory CD4+ T cells in infected
individuals contain more HIV viral DNA than other memory CD4+ T cells, at all stages of HIV
disease. Additionally, following viral rebound during interruption of antiretroviral therapy, the …
Abstract
HIV infection is associated with the progressive loss of CD4+ T cells through their destruction or decreased production,. A central, yet unresolved issue of HIV disease is the mechanism for this loss, and in particular whether HIV-specific CD4+ T cells are preferentially affected,,. Here we show that HIV-specific memory CD4+ T cells in infected individuals contain more HIV viral DNA than other memory CD4+ T cells, at all stages of HIV disease. Additionally, following viral rebound during interruption of antiretroviral therapy, the frequency of HIV viral DNA in the HIV-specific pool of memory CD4+ T cells increases to a greater extent than in memory CD4+ T cells of other specificities. These findings show that HIV-specific CD4+ T cells are preferentially infected by HIV in vivo. This provides a potential mechanism to explain the loss of HIV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses, and consequently the loss of immunological control of HIV replication. Furthermore, the phenomenon of HIV specifically infecting the very cells that respond to it adds a cautionary note to the practice of structured therapy interruption.
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