Infection of human thymic lymphocytes by HIV-1
Article Abstract:
The thymus gland plays a major role in the development and maturation of T lymphocytes of the immune system. A subset of T lymphocytes contain the molecule CD4, which is used by the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) as a receptor to bind to and enter T cells. These T cells are eventually destroyed by the virus. Without these cells, the immune system is compromised and cannot fight off diseases, which eventually leads to death. HIV can infect the epithelial cells, or cells lining the thymus gland. It is now shown that the thymic lymphocytes themselves, which are immature T cells, can also be infected. The thymic cells were not as readily destroyed by HIV as other cells. This suggests that infection of thymic cells may occur in the body. The thymus undergoes atrophy, or gets smaller due to the death of cells, in adults. In children with AIDS, the thymus gland has been seen to undergo premature atrophy. Further study is needed to see if the thymus cells in the body become infected with HIV and to understand the effect of this on the disease process. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0894-9255
Year: 1990
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Envelope V3 region sequences of Cuban HIV-1 isolates
Article Abstract:
Various sources of infection may be linked to the HIV epidemic in Cuba. A genetic analysis was performed by polymerase chain reaction on HIV virus from 15 HIV-Cubans. Three of the Cubans had been infected in Angola, six were infected in a Cuban province at about the same time, and six were infected by a male who had infected 13 women by sexual contact. Subjects infected in Angola had V3 sequences that seemed close to the MN strain of HIV-1. Those infected in the same Cuban province had the identical QR dipeptide in the V3 loop tip, which also had been seen in Chicago in 1984. The man and two women in the last group showed a change in amino acids at position 12 within the sequence.
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1077-9450
Year: 1995
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Diminished Representation of HIV1 variants containing select drug resistance-conferring mutations in primary HIV-1 infection
Article Abstract:
The incidence of HIV-1 variants harboring mutations conferring resistance to thymidine analogues where thymidene analogue mutations (TAMs), nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNMs), lamivudine (3TC) and protease inhibitors (PIs) acquired in primary HIV infection (PHI) is studied. The study suggest that decreased viremia and viral fitness in the case of MI*4V-containing HIV-1 variants may impact on viral transmissibility.
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (1999)
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1525-4135
Year: 2004
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