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The cellular immune response to the human immunodeficiency virus, mediated by T lymphocytes, seems strong but fails to control the infection completely. In most virus infections, T cells either eliminate the virus or suppress it indefinitely as a harmless, persisting infection. But the human immunodeficiency virus undermines this control by infecting key immune cells, thereby impairing the response of both the infected CD4+ T cells and the uninfected CD8+ T cells. The failure of the latter to function efficiently facilitates the escape of virus from immune control and the collapse of the whole immune system.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/35073658

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nature

Publication Date

19/04/2001

Volume

410

Pages

980 - 987

Keywords

AIDS Vaccines, Animals, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxicity, Immunologic, HIV, HIV Infections, Humans, Immune Tolerance, Lymphocyte Activation, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic, T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer