Failing immune control as a result of impaired CD8(+) T-cell maturation: CD27 might provide a clue

Debbie van Baarle, Stefan Kostense, Marinus H. J. van Oers, Dorte Hamann, Frank Miedema

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

111 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Despite readily detectable virus-specific CD8(+)T cells inmost HIV-infected patients, immune surveillance is eventually lost, leading to progression to AIDS. Recently developed insights into human T-cell differentiation have been used to study the phenotype of virus-specific T cells in HIV-infected individuals. Based on these results, we propose that failing immune control in human viral infection could be a result of impaired cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) maturation into fully differentiated effector T cells. Impaired maturation is not confined to HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells but could also be involved in failing immunity to Epstein-Barr virus and other viral infections. We postulate that CD27(-) effector CD8(+) T cells might be required for adequate control of chronic viral infection and prevention of disease development
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)586-591
JournalTrends in immunology
Volume23
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002

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