The Open Virology Journal

2013, 7 : 57-71
Published online 2013 July 26. DOI: 10.2174/1874357920130621001
Publisher ID: TOVJ-7-57

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 T-Cell Signaling in HIV-1 Infection

Wasim Abbas and Georges Herbein, *
Department of Virology, Pathogens & Inflammation Laboratory, UPRES EA4266, SFR FED 4234, University of Franche-Comte, CHRU Besançon, F-25030 Besançon, France

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Virology, University of Franche-Comte, Hôpital Saint-Jacques, 2 place Saint-Jacques, F-25030 Besançon cedex, France; Tel: +33-381-21-88-77; Fax: +33-381-66-56-95; E-mail: georges.herbein@univ-fcomte.fr

ABSTRACT

HIV exploits the T-cell signaling network to gain access to downstream cellular components, which serves as effective tools to break the cellular barriers. Multiple host factors and their interaction with viral proteins contribute to the complexity of HIV-1 pathogenesis and disease progression. HIV-1 proteins gp120, Nef, Tat and Vpr alter the T-cell signaling pathways by activating multiple transcription factors including NF-ĸB, Sp1 and AP-1. HIV-1 evades the immune system by developing a multi-pronged strategy. Additionally, HIV-1 encoded proteins influence the apoptosis in the host cell favoring or blocking T-cell apoptosis. Thus, T-cell signaling hijacked by viral proteins accounts for both viral persistence and immune suppression during HIV-1 infection. Here, we summarize past and present studies on HIV-1 T-cell signaling with special focus on the possible role of T cells in facilitating viral infection and pathogenesis

Keywords:

Apoptosis, HIV-1, Nef, reservoirs, T cells, viral proteins.