Inefficient cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated killing of HIV-1-infected cells in vivo.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in controlling HIV-1 infection is vital for vaccine design. However, it is difficult to assess the importance of CTLs in natural infection. Different human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles are associated with different rates of progression to AIDS, indicating that CTLs play a protective role. Yet virus clearance rates following antiretroviral therapy are not impaired in individuals with advanced HIV disease, suggesting that weakening of the CTL response is not the major underlying cause of disease progression and that CTLs do not have an important protective role. Here we reconcile these apparently conflicting studies. We estimate the selection pressure exerted by CTL responses that drive the emergence of immune escape variant

SUBMITTER: Asquith B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1395353 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature