       Document 0573
 DOCN  M9610573
 TI    New research hypotheses in the immunopathogenesis of human
       immunodeficiency virus infection.
 DT    9601
 AU    Clerici M; Chair of Immunology, University of Milan, Italy.
 SO    Q J Nucl Med. 1995 Sep;39(3):163-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96033586
 AB    The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a clinically
       multifaceted disease induced by infection with the human
       immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV infection results in a complex pattern
       of immunologic alterations that leads to the development of acquired
       immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the majority of HIV seropositive
       (HIV+) individuals. The reduction in CD4 T lymphocyte counts is the
       hallmark of HIV infection nevertheless, long before the reduction of CD4
       counts reaches critical levels, a series of profound and complex defects
       that impair the function of CD4 T lymphocytes can be observed. Thus, HIV
       infection is characterised by quantitative and qualitative defects
       affecting CD4 T lymphocytes. It was recently suggested that the
       qualitative defects observed in HIV infection preferentially impair the
       production of type 1 cytokines, thus provoking abnormalities that
       selectively affect cell mediated immunity (CMI). Because the efficacy of
       CMI and humoral immunity is in a continuous reciprocal balance, the
       impairment of type 1 cytokines production and CMI is likely to be
       associated with an increased production of type 2 cytokines and an
       exaggerated stimulation of humoral immunity. Corollaries of this
       hypothesis are that: 1) a strong cell mediated immunity is more
       protective in preventing the progression of HIV infection to AIDS; and
       2) signs of hyper/abnormal activation of humoral response are indicators
       of poor prognosis. Additionally, it was recently suggested that
       programmed cell death (PCD) is an important mechanism leading to CD4
       depletion in HIV infection, and that susceptibility of peripheral
       lymphocytes to PCD appears to be differentially regulated by diverse
       cytokines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 DE    Cytokines/BIOSYNTHESIS  CD4 Lymphocyte Count  Human  HIV
       Infections/*IMMUNOLOGY/VIROLOGY  Immunity, Cellular  Support, Non-U.S.
       Gov't  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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