The macrophage in the persistence and pathogenesis of HIV infection

Major target cells for HIV are CD4+ T cells and cells of mononuclear phagocyte lineage. Virus replicates continually in both cell types despite an often vigorous and prolonged host immune response before onset of clinical disease. Ultimately, the subclinical viral infection progresses to immune dysfunction with a selective depletion of CD4+ T-helper/inducer lymphocytes. Recent studies of virus--target-cell interactions document macrophages as major sites of HIV replication. In this report, the authors review aspects of macrophage-HIV interactions for virus persistence and the pathogenesis of HIV infection.