Apoptosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV
Ruibal-Ares, B.; Belmonte, L.; Baré, P.; De Elizalde de Bracco, M.M.
Medicina 60(Suppl 2): 17-20
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7680 PMID: 11188925 Document Number: 513531
Generalized activation of the immune system after HIV infection leads to an exacerbation of all apoptotic mechanisms. CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes are sensitized to apoptotic stimuli. Macrophages are important in the removal of apoptotic cells, they prevent apoptotic cell accumulation during in vitro culture and they may lead to enhanced CD4+ T lymphocyte cell death through indirect mechanisms. A simple procedure for prolonged culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV+ patients is discussed, in relation to its convenience to evaluate apoptosis, cell to cell interaction and HIV replication in the absence of exogenously added stimuli or co-culture of allogeneic cells. In this system, HIV replication takes place primarily in cells of macrophage lineage that may be activated into differentiation through removal of apoptotic debris during the culture.