Grouppe Kurosawa: HIV - The Induction of Immunosuppression by HIV Viral Particles (print)

The Induction of Immunosuppression by HIV Viral Particles

The immunosuppression associated with HIV infections transcends the ability of the virus to directly infect and destroy lymphoid cells. We believe the immunosuppression takes two fundamental forms. First, the viral proteins directly and indirectly stimulate the synthesis of transforming growth factor beta (TGFb) and IL-10, immune hormones that serve as both positive and negative regulators of a multitude of immune functions. Second, viral proteins such as TAT, NEF, VPR, p24 and gp120 directly suppress a multitude of immunological pathways, while p17, later in the infection cycle, may actually inappropriately hyperactivate a cell-mediated immune response that results in the release of pro-inflammatory immune hormones, a decrease in IL-16 synthesis, and ultimately dementia.