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Review
. 2019 Jun;16(3):236-243.
doi: 10.1007/s11904-019-00445-6.

Role of T Lymphocytes in HIV Neuropathogenesis

Caroline Subra  1   2 , Lydie Trautmann  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Role of T Lymphocytes in HIV Neuropathogenesis

Caroline Subra et al. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the role of CD4+ T lymphocytes leading to HIV assault and persistence in the central nervous system (CNS) and the elimination of HIV-infected CNS resident cells by CD8+ T lymphocytes.

Recent findings: HIV targets the CNS early in infection, and HIV-infected individuals suffer from mild forms of neurological impairments even under antiretroviral therapy (ART). CD4+ T cells and monocytes mediate HIV entry into the brain and constitute a source for HIV persistence and neuronal damage. HIV-specific CD8+ T cells are also massively recruited in the CNS in acute infection to control viral replication but cannot eliminate HIV-infected cells within the CNS. This review summarizes the involvement of CD4+ T cells in seeding and maintaining HIV infection in the brain and describes the involvement of CD8+ T cells in HIV neuropathogenesis, playing a role still to be deciphered, either beneficial in eliminating HIV-infected cells or deleterious in releasing inflammatory cytokines.

Keywords: CNS HIV invasion; CNS inflammation; HIV neuropathogenesis; HIV-infected cell killing; T lymphocytes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Caroline Subra and Lydie Trautmann declare that they have no conflict of interest.

References

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