Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2010 Jan;12(1):19-27. doi: 10.1007/s11908-009-0072-9. Epub 2010 Jan 13.
HIV is primarily a sexually transmitted infection. However, given that the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) houses most of the body's lymphocytes, including activated memory CD4(+) T cells that are preferential targets for HIV, recent research has focused on the role of the GIT in transmission and pathogenesis. In health, the GIT maintains a balance between immune tolerance and rapid responsiveness. A complex network of innate and adaptive responses maintains this balance, which is severely perturbed in HIV infection. Recent studies have focused on mechanisms of GIT CD4(+) T-cell depletion and epithelial disruption in HIV infection, the role of inflammation in accelerating viral dissemination, the kinetics of the adaptive response following transmission, and the extent of T-cell reconstitution following antiretroviral therapy. This review summarizes the results of recent investigations that may have important implications for the development of vaccines, microbicides, and therapeutic interventions for HIV and other mucosal pathogens.
HIV 主要通过性传播。然而，由于胃肠道（GIT）容纳了人体大部分的淋巴细胞，包括易受 HIV 感染的活化记忆 CD4(+)T 细胞，因此最近的研究集中在 GIT 在传播和发病机制中的作用。在健康状态下，GIT 维持着免疫耐受和快速应答之间的平衡。固有和适应性反应的复杂网络维持着这种平衡，而在 HIV 感染中这种平衡被严重打乱。最近的研究集中在 HIV 感染中 GIT CD4(+)T 细胞耗竭和上皮细胞破坏的机制、炎症在加速病毒传播中的作用、传播后适应性反应的动力学以及抗逆转录病毒治疗后的 T 细胞重建程度。这篇综述总结了最近的研究结果，这些结果可能对 HIV 和其他粘膜病原体疫苗、杀微生物剂和治疗干预措施的发展具有重要意义。
