Regulatory T cells in HIV immunotherapy

Significant research has been conducted on the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in HIV infection. To date, however, it is not clear whether Tregs play a detrimental role or a beneficial role in the pathogenesis of HIV infection. In fact, a number of immunotherapeutic strategies to control HIV infection have revealed a possible antagonistic role for Tregs. This necessitates investigating ways to counteract the suppressive function, such as through Treg depletion or blockade of specific Treg immunosuppressive mechanisms, without further increasing the cellular immune activation associated with chronic HIV infection. Simply applying Treg immunotherapeutic strategies used in diseases other than HIV may pose problems due to the complexity of HIV immunopathogenesis. Studies are therefore necessary to elucidate the different immunoregulatory networks in HIV infection in order to determine the specific cellular or molecular pathways that can be altered to boost the body's immune control of HIV.