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
Management of HIV: Management of HIV: old challenges and new needs
The aim of this thematic issue is to provide the most recent updates regarding the effective management of HIV infection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly decreased HIV-related mortality, leading to an enhancement in the quality of life and life expectancy for people living with HIV (PLWH). Despite the numerous advancements ...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
-
Nitrogen Mustards as Anticancer Chemotherapies: Historic Perspective, Current Developments and Future Trends
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry An Integrative Systems Analysis of High-grade Glioma Cell Lines: TLRs, Wnt, BRCA1, Netrins, STXBP1 and MDH1 Provide Putative Molecular Targets for Therapeutic Intervention
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Antioxidant SkQ1 Alleviates Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease-like Pathology in Old OXYS Rats by Reversing Mitochondrial Deterioration
Current Alzheimer Research Scorpion Toxin Polyptides as Therapeutic Agents: An Overview
Protein & Peptide Letters The Genetic Basis of Kidney Cancer: Why is Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Often Overlooked?
Current Molecular Medicine Targeting Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase (KMO): Implications for Therapy in Huntingtons Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Relationship between CNS and Immunology: Correlation with Psychology
Current Drug Metabolism Inhibition of Angiogenesis as a Treatment Strategy for Neuroblastoma
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews The Next Step in Voice Assessment: High-Speed Digital Endoscopy and Objective Evaluation
Current Bioinformatics bHLH Transcription Factors Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy: General Features for In Silico Drug Design
Current Medicinal Chemistry Embryonic Stem Cell-Based Screen for Small Molecules: Cluster Analysis Reveals Four Response Patterns in Developing Neural Cells
Current Medicinal Chemistry Ex Vivo Liver – Directed Gene Therapy for the Treatment of Metabolic Diseases: Advances in Hepatocyte Transplantation and Retroviral Vectors
Current Gene Therapy Crosstalk between IGF-1R and other Tumor Promoting Pathways
Current Pharmaceutical Design Melatonin and Melatoninergic Drugs as Therapeutic Agents: Ramelteon and Agomelatine, the Two Most Promising Melatonin Receptor Agonists
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery The Endocrine System and Sarcopenia: Potential Therapeutic Benefits
Current Aging Science Is Helicobacter pylori Always a "Bad Guy"?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Plant Polyphenols and Tumors: From Mechanisms to Therapies, Prevention, and Protection Against Toxicity of Anti-Cancer Treatments
Current Medicinal Chemistry In Utero Gene Therapy: Prospect and Future
Current Pharmaceutical Design Advances in Drug Safety
Current Pharmaceutical Design Mitochondrial Tolerance to Drugs and Toxic Agents in Ageing and Disease
Current Drug Targets