[Tumor necrosis factor and AIDS]

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), an etiologic agent of AIDS, belongs to lentivirus subfamily of retroviruses. In striking contrast to oncoviruses HIV does not transform cells but instead causes chronic progressive diseases. This feature is demonstrable in vitro by dramatic cytopathic effects upon virus/cell coculture. Since virus-producing cells are generally destroyed, HIV must be transmitted to other cells after replication in order to maintain the infection. However, after viral infection, AIDS requires a long period of time before becoming full-brown. The virus appears to establish latent infection and stay dormant in many cells until activation signals have been received. We found that tumor necrosis factor can activate such latent HIV and selectively kill HIV-infected cells. The mechanism of cell death was recently cleared as Apoptosis.