Breaking the asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 infection

AIDS typically consists of three phases: (1) an acute, infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome followed by (2) a prolonged asymptomatic stage ending in (3) the appearance of frank AIDS. The asymptomatic phase may last for years and its presence suggests a persistent conflagration between the virus and the host's immune response. There is considerable evidence that an immune response develops but the response is ultimately inadequate. From the work of others as well as our own, we have constructed a hypothesis which attempts to explain some aspects of the immune response. We propose that HIV-1 preferentially infects a subset of CD4+ lymphocytes which are then either destroyed or altered in their biological functions. Further, we suggest that this subset represents the CD4+ TH1 lymphocyte population. By decreasing the quantity of IL-2 and interferon-gamma produced by TH1 lymphocytes, the production of cytokines by TH2 cells is increased. One of the cytokines produced by TH2 lymphocytes is IL-10, a polypeptide with significant inhibitory properties towards lymphocytes. Sera from patients with frank AIDS have significant lymphocyte inhibitory activities some of which operate through IL-10. Thus, a gradual shift to a TH2-type response and release of increasing amounts of inhibitors eventually prevents the host from replacing destroyed cells or mounting new and appropriate immune responses.