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Review
. 2017 Sep 28:8:1224.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01224. eCollection 2017.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and Type I Interferons-Where Sex Makes a Difference

Susanne Maria Ziegler  1 , Marcus Altfeld  2
Affiliations
Review

Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and Type I Interferons-Where Sex Makes a Difference

Susanne Maria Ziegler et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 epidemic continues to represent a global health problem that is over-proportionally affecting women from sub-Saharan Africa. Besides social and environmental factors, the modulation of immunological pathways by sex hormones and gene dosage effects of X chromosomal-encoded genes have been suggested to lead to differential outcomes in HIV-1 disease. Women present with lower HIV-1 loads early in infection. However, the progression to AIDS for the same level of viremia is faster in women than in men. Type I interferons (IFNs) play a prominent role in the control of HIV-1 transmission and replication. Continuous stimulation of type I IFNs in chronic viral infections can lead to increased levels of immune activation, which can be higher in HIV-1-infected women than in men. A role of steroid hormone signaling in regulating viral replication has been postulated, which might further account for sex differences observed in HIV-1 infections. Here, we review recent findings and current knowledge on sex-specific differences in HIV-1 infections.

Keywords: human immunodeficiency virus 1; immune activation; sex differences; sex hormones; toll-like receptor 7; type I interferon.

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