Cytometry, immunology, and HIV infection: three decades of strong interactions

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Virology
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection profoundly impacts the immune system.
• Flow cytometry (FCM) is a powerful tool for analyzing immune cell populations and functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review cellular and molecular immune changes detectable by FCM during HIV infection.
• To highlight FCM's role in understanding HIV pathogenesis and immune responses.
• To discuss FCM's utility in monitoring antiretroviral therapy efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on flow cytometry applications in HIV research.
• Analysis of cellular markers and immune cell subsets identified by FCM.
• Examination of molecular signaling pathways investigated using FCM.

Main Results:

• FCM detects significant alterations in T cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+), B cells, and NK cells during HIV infection.
• Changes in cytokine production and activation markers are quantifiable via FCM.
• FCM enables detailed characterization of immune dysregulation caused by HIV.

Conclusions:

• Flow cytometry is indispensable for dissecting the complex immunological landscape of HIV infection.
• FCM provides critical insights into viral-host interactions and immune evasion strategies.
• This technology is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of current and future HIV therapies.