Related Experiment Videos
What can we learn about human immunodeficiency virus infection from a study of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus?
1Institute for Experimental Immunology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. paulk@pathol.unizh.ch
Insights
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) play a complex role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, potentially controlling viral replication and immune pathology. Their exact function depends on virus factors like dose and distribution.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is debated, with theories ranging from viral control to disease progression.
- CTL are crucial in controlling lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection in mice, as demonstrated by extensive experimental models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the potential roles of CTL in HIV infection by comparing findings with established CTL functions in LCMV infection.
- To understand how CTL interact with virus-infected cells in the context of HIV and LCMV.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of CTL roles in HIV and LCMV infections.
- Review of in vivo depletion, adoptive transfer, knockout, and transgenic mouse models for LCMV research.
Main Results:
- CTL may be critical for both controlling HIV replication and mediating immune pathology.
- The impact of CTL in HIV infection is significantly influenced by viral dose, distribution, and dynamics.
Conclusions:
- A comparative approach highlights the potential dual role of CTL in HIV infection: viral control and immune-mediated pathology.
- Understanding CTL dynamics in relation to virus characteristics is key to interpreting their role in HIV pathogenesis.
Abstract:
The role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains elusive. Since the discovery 10 years ago of high levels of specific CTL in this disease, some have argued that they play an important role in virus control, others that they drive disease progression through destruction of T helper cells, and others still that they play no obvious role at all. By contrast, the central role of CTL in murine lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection has been very clearly worked out through the use of in vivo depletion and adoptive transfer experiments, as well as knockout and transgenic mice. To interpret the possible roles for CTL in HIV, we have therefore made a comparison between what is known about CTL and their interaction with virus-infected cells in these two infections. This illustrates a potential critical role for these cells in both control of HIV replication and immune-mediated pathology, but one that is highly dependent on virus dose, distribution and dynamics.