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The dynamics of CD4+ T-cell depletion in HIV disease

Nature volume 410, pages 974–979 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The size and composition of the CD4+ T-cell population is regulated by balanced proliferation of progenitor cells and death of mature progeny. After infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, this homeostasis is often disturbed and CD4+ T cells are instead depleted. Such depletion cannot result simply from accelerated destruction of mature CD4+ T cells — sources of T-cell production must also fail. Ironically, this failure may be precipitated by physiological mechanisms designed to maintain homeostasis in the face of accelerated T-cell loss.

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Figure 1: Accelerated T-cell destruction leads to impaired production.

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Acknowledgements

I thank J. Harris, M. Hellerstein, K. Komanduri, J. Moore, L. Napolitano, D. Nixon, K. K. Smith-McCune and Z. Grossman for helpful discussions and for their critical reading of the manuscript. I also apologize for the fact that many important references could not be included here because of space constraints. Work in my laboratory has been supported by grants from the NIH, the J. David Gladstone Institutes, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Clinical Scientist Award.

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  1. Departments of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology, Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California at San Francisco, PO Box 419100, San Francisco, 94141-9100, California, USA

    Joseph M. McCune

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McCune, J. The dynamics of CD4+ T-cell depletion in HIV disease. Nature 410, 974–979 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35073648

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