High-level HIV-1 viremia suppresses viral antigen-specific CD4(+) T cell proliferation.

ABSTRACT: In chronic viral infections of humans and experimental animals, virus-specific CD4(+) T cell function is believed to be critical for induction and maintenance of host immunity that mediates effective restriction of viral replication. Because in vitro proliferation of HIV-specific memory CD4(+) T cells is only rarely demonstrable in HIV-infected individuals, it is presumed that HIV-specific CD4(+) T cells are killed upon encountering the virus, and maintenance of CD4(+) T cell responses in some patients causes the restriction of virus replication. In this study, proliferative responses were absent in patients with poorly restricted virus replication although HIV-specific CD4(+) T cells capable of producing IFN-gamma were detected. In a separate cohort, interruption of antiretroviral therapy

SUBMITTER: McNeil AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC61135 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature