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B cells in the pathogenesis of AIDS
1Departments of Pathology at the New York Veterans' Administration Medical Center and the New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Immunology Today
|October 8, 2014
Summary
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may infect both B cells and T cells, explaining acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) abnormalities. This dual infection disrupts immune homeostasis, leading to impaired helper T-cell function and immune system collapse.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is characterized by profound immune system dysregulation.
- The precise mechanisms by which the etiologic agent of AIDS impacts immune cells are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a unifying hypothesis for the pathogenesis of AIDS.
- To explain the observed B cell and T cell abnormalities in AIDS patients.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of immune cell interactions.
- Review of existing immunological data on AIDS.
Main Results:
- The etiologic agent of AIDS may infect both B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.
- Activation of B cells by the agent could disrupt immune homeostasis.
- The agent's potential to destroy helper T cells could readily explain observed immune deficits.
Conclusions:
- A single lymphotropic agent infecting both B cells and helper T cells provides a parsimonious explanation for AIDS pathogenesis.
- This hypothesis integrates B cell activation and T cell destruction into a coherent model of immune collapse in AIDS.
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