HIV1-associated CD4 T lymphocyte apoptosis

Purpose. - Apoptosis during HIV infection has been evoked for ten years. The role of apoptosis during HIV infection have be confirmed by several authors but the exact relationships between viral replication, apoptosis and lymphocyte depletion remain to be clarified. Current knowledge and key points. - HIV may induce apoptosis of infected but also of uninfected bystander CD4+ lympohcytes. Those two types of HIV induced apoptosis lie on different pathways. While Fas and FasL are involved in apoptosis of bystander cells, mitochondrial pathway is required for apoptosis of infected cells. Cytokines but also antiHIV drugs may modulate HIV-induced lymphocyte apoptosis. Morever while protease inhibitor influence HIV replication and then secondary apotosis of infected cells, they can also interfere with spontaneous apoptosis of lymphocyte beside the context of HIV infection. Future and projects. - Apoptosis is thought to be one of the mechanism involved in CD4 T lymphocyte cell death during HIV infection. However relationships between apoptosis and HIV replication may be more complex. In fact it has been recently reported that while HIV replication induced lymphocyte apoptosis, apoptosis may in turn induced HIV replication in a loop amplification pathway (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. Tous droits; reserves.