Beta-chemokines and protection from HIV type 1 disease

A small revolution has occurred in the field of AIDS research. A number of chemokines, most of which belong to the CC or beta family, were found by us and others to inhibit HIV infection potently and specifically. The mechanism of such inhibition was shown to be at the level of receptor binding, as these chemokines are binding to receptors that mediate HIV infection. Therefore, chemokines effectively block entry of HIV. Although chemokines have a natural function as chemoattractants, it is intriguing to think that in crossing their path with the virus, they constitute the first example of a naturally occurring soluble molecule, other than antibodies, that can specifically prevent infection. Thus, chemokines could play a role in protective immunity against HIV infection together with other classic correlates, such as neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic T cells, and some clinical studies suggest that this is indeed the case. Here we review and analyze some of the basic and clinical science that led to the elucidation of the role of chemokines and their receptor in protection from HIV infection.