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Published on: June 30, 2013
HIV-associated immune activation: from bench to bedside
Gabriella d'Ettorre1, Mirko Paiardini, Giancarlo Ceccarelli
1Department of Hygiene, Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome, Italy.
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
|February 12, 2011
Summary
Chronic immune activation in HIV infection predicts AIDS progression. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) helps, new immune modulatory treatments are being explored to fully resolve this activation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- HIV infection causes chronic immune activation, a predictor of AIDS progression.
- Nonpathogenic SIV infections in natural hosts show low immune activation.
- Mechanisms of HIV-associated immune activation are complex, involving viral and host factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the causes and consequences of HIV-associated immune activation.
- To summarize current immune modulatory treatments under clinical investigation for HIV-infected individuals.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on HIV-associated immune activation.
- Analysis of factors contributing to immune activation, including mucosal immune dysfunction and CD4(+) T cell infection patterns.
- Summary of clinical investigations into immune modulatory therapies.
Main Results:
- HIV-induced immune activation is a key factor in disease progression.
- Mucosal immune dysfunction and microbial translocation contribute to immune activation.
- ART alone does not fully resolve immune activation, necessitating further therapeutic strategies.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the mechanisms of HIV-associated immune activation is crucial.
- Exploratory immune modulatory treatments are being investigated alongside ART.
- Further research is needed to fully resolve immune activation and improve outcomes for HIV-infected individuals.
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