Evidence for human immunodeficiency virus infection of the lung

Pulmonary disease is a frequent manifestation in the terminal stages of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and is caused mainly by a number of opportunistic microorganisms, most commonly Pneumocystis carinii. Despite the extensive involvement of the lung in the pathogenesis of AIDS, until recently little was known about the role of human immunodeficiency (HIV). In this review we will discuss the cellular tropism and phenotypic characterisation of HIV strains isolated from the lung. The available literature on HIV infection of the lung is reviewed, and the mechanisms of HIV-induced pathogenesis in the lung is discussed.