Abstract
How HIV replicates and causes destruction of the thymus, and how to restore thymic function, are among the most important questions of HIV-1 pathogenesis and therapy in adult as well as pediatric patients. The thymus appears to function, albeit at reduced levels, throughout the life of adults, to respond to T cell depletion induced by HIV and to be suppressed by HIV. In this review, we summarize recent findings concerning HIV replication and pathogenesis in the human thymus, focusing on mechanistic insights gleaned from studies in the SCID-hu Thy / Liv mouse and human fetal-thymus organ culture (HF-TOC) models. First, we discuss HIV viral determinants and host factors involved in the replication of HIV in the thymus. Second, we consider evidence that both viral factors and host factors contribute to HIV-induced thymocyte depletion. We thus propose that multiple mechanisms, including depletion and suppression of progenitor cells, paracrine and direct lytic depletion of thymocytes, and altered thymocyte selection are involved in HIV-induced pathology in the thymus. With the SCID-hu Thy / Liv mouse and HF-TOC models, it will be important in the coming years to further clarify the virological, cell biological, and immunological mechanisms of HIV replication and pathogenesis in human thymus, and to correlate their significance in HIV disease progression.
Keywords: thymus, scid-hu thy/liv, hf-toc, env, nef, hiv/aids
Current HIV Research
Title: HIV-1 Replication and Pathogenesis in the Human Thymus
Volume: 1 Issue: 3
Author(s): Eric G. Meissner, Karen M. Duus, Rebecca Loomis, Rhiannon D'Agostin and Lishan Su
Affiliation:
Keywords: thymus, scid-hu thy/liv, hf-toc, env, nef, hiv/aids
Abstract: How HIV replicates and causes destruction of the thymus, and how to restore thymic function, are among the most important questions of HIV-1 pathogenesis and therapy in adult as well as pediatric patients. The thymus appears to function, albeit at reduced levels, throughout the life of adults, to respond to T cell depletion induced by HIV and to be suppressed by HIV. In this review, we summarize recent findings concerning HIV replication and pathogenesis in the human thymus, focusing on mechanistic insights gleaned from studies in the SCID-hu Thy / Liv mouse and human fetal-thymus organ culture (HF-TOC) models. First, we discuss HIV viral determinants and host factors involved in the replication of HIV in the thymus. Second, we consider evidence that both viral factors and host factors contribute to HIV-induced thymocyte depletion. We thus propose that multiple mechanisms, including depletion and suppression of progenitor cells, paracrine and direct lytic depletion of thymocytes, and altered thymocyte selection are involved in HIV-induced pathology in the thymus. With the SCID-hu Thy / Liv mouse and HF-TOC models, it will be important in the coming years to further clarify the virological, cell biological, and immunological mechanisms of HIV replication and pathogenesis in human thymus, and to correlate their significance in HIV disease progression.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Meissner G. Eric, Duus M. Karen, Loomis Rebecca, D'Agostin Rhiannon and Su Lishan, HIV-1 Replication and Pathogenesis in the Human Thymus, Current HIV Research 2003; 1 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570162033485258
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570162033485258 |
Print ISSN 1570-162X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4251 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
HIV vaccine development
The development of a safe and effective vaccine that impedes HIV-1 transmission and/or limits the severity of infection remains a public health priority. The HIV-1/AIDS pandemic continues to have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable and under-served communities in the USA and globally. In the USA, minority communities that have relatively ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase, an Emerging Target for Anti-Cancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Application of the Phage Display Technology for the Development of Peptide- mediated Drug Delivery Systems through the Blood-Brain Barrier
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Measurement of Vitamin K Metabolites in Neonatal Faecal Matter by HPLC with Electrochemical Detection
Current Chromatography Heme Oxygenase-1: A Fundamental Guardian Against Oxidative Tissue Injuries in Acute Inflammation
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry CT Image Reconstruction Using NLMfuzzyCD Regularization Method
Current Medical Imaging Current and Promising Therapies in Autosomal Recessive Ataxias
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Role of Dendritic Cells in HIV-Immunotherapy
Current HIV Research The Influence of Natural Substrates and Inhibitors on the Nucleotide- Dependent Excision Activity of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase in the Infected Cell
Current Pharmaceutical Design Overview of Flaxseed Patent Applications for the Reduction of Cholesterol Levels
Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture The Evolution of Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Biliary Tract Rhabdomyosarcoma
Current Pediatric Reviews Analysis of NCL Proteins from an Evolutionary Standpoint
Current Genomics Effect of DNA Repair Deficiencies on the Cytotoxicity of Drugs Used in Cancer Therapy - A Review
Current Medicinal Chemistry A Synopsis of Nano-Technological Approaches Toward Anti-Epilepsy Therapy: Present and Future Research Implications
Current Drug Metabolism Comparison of Dietary Approaches to Treat Obesity Based on the Different Carbohydrate/Fat Content: Impact on Weight Loss and Lipid Profile
Current Nutrition & Food Science Potential Impacts of Prebiotics and Probiotics on Cancer Prevention
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Natural and Synthetic Inhibitors of Caspases: Targets for Novel Drugs
Current Drug Targets - CNS & Neurological Disorders Engineering Nanomedicines to Overcome Multidrug Resistance in Cancer Therapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Renin-angiotensin System Blockers and Modulation of Radiation-Induced Brain Injury
Current Drug Targets The Efficacies and Toxicities of Antidepressant Drugs in Clinics, Building the Relationship between Chemo-Genetics and Socio-Environments
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Pharmacogenetics of Metabolic Genes of Anthracyclines in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Current Drug Metabolism