Su L, Kaneshima H, Bonyhadi M, Salimi S, Kraft D, Rabin L, McCune J M
HIV Group, Systemix, Incorporated, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA.
Immunity. 1995 Jan;2(1):25-36. doi: 10.1016/1074-7613(95)90076-4.
Direct and indirect cytopathic mechanisms have been proposed to account for the loss of CD4+ T cells after infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We report here that HIV-1 infection of the human thymus in vivo results in thymocyte depletion by at least two different mechanisms. Thymocytes within multiple stages of differentiation are induced to die of apoptosis; most of these cells are uninfected. Additionally, thymopoiesis is interrupted by direct infection and destruction of intrathymic CD3-CD4+CD8- progenitor cells. These mechanisms are differentially induced by distinct isolates of HIV-1.
