Immune Responses to the human retroviruses HIV-1 and HTLV-1

Abstract

Retroviruses are viruses that integrate their reverse transcribed cDNA into the host genome. Integration into the host DNA ensures their replication and generation of new viral particles. In this minireview I will focus on the interaction of two huma retroviruses with the immune system. Both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and the human T cell leukemia virus are retroviruses that target the CD4+ T lymphocytes. The CD4 T lymphocytes play a central role in the immune system and help coordinate the immune response by stimulating other immune cells, such as macrophages, B lymphocytes, and CD8 T lymphocytes, to fight infection. HIV-1 weakens the immune system by destroying CD4 T cells resulting in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In contrast, HTLV-1 infection results in the transformation of these cells causing human T cell leukemia.