Macrophage Activation and HIV Infection: Can the Trojan Horse Turn into a Fortress?

Title: Macrophage Activation and HIV Infection: Can the Trojan Horse Turn into a Fortress?

Volume: 2 Issue: 8

Author(s): G. Herbein, A. Coaquette, D. Perez-Bercoff and G. Pancino

Affiliation:

Keywords: Macrophage Activation, HIV Infection, Trojan Horse

Abstract: Macrophages are infected early during HIV infection and are thought to play the role of a Trojan horse by spreading infection in tissues. Most recent studies point out to a more complex role for macrophages in HIV infection: macrophages could contribute to both host defense and viral persistence and pathogenesis. Infected macrophages are a reservoir for HIV and modulate apoptosis of T cells present in their vicinity. Also, a functional impairment of HIV-infected macrophages may play a role in AIDS pathogenesis. Nevertheless, both activation and differentiation of monocyte / macrophages can interfere with susceptibility of these cells to infection. Therefore, a wide variety of stimuli result in HIV suppression through macrophage activation. At present times, a dynamic view on the role of macrophages in HIV infection arises which indicates that macrophages are a target for the virus and at the same time regulate its replication. Therefore, macrophages are at the cross-road between protection and pathogenesis in HIV infection due to their involvement both as a viral target and a key modulator of non-specific and specific immune responses. Future studies will help unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie HIV-macrophage interactions and might result in new vaccine and / or therapeutic strategies.

Cite this article as:

Herbein G., Coaquette A., Perez-Bercoff D. and Pancino G., Macrophage Activation and HIV Infection: Can the Trojan Horse Turn into a Fortress?, Current Molecular Medicine 2002; 2 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524023361844