How HIV Causes AIDS
How HIV Causes AIDS
enzyme -- a protein that accelerates a specific chemical reaction without altering itself.
follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) -- cells found in the germinal centers (B cell areas) of lymphoid organs. FDCs have thread-like tentacles that form a web-like network to trap invaders and present them to B cells, which then make antibodies to attack the invaders.
germinal centers -- structures within lymphoid tissues that contain FDCs and B cells, and in which immune responses are initiated.
gp41 -- glycoprotein 41, a protein embedded in the outer envelope of HIV. Plays a key role in HIV's infection of CD4+ T cells by facilitating the fusion of the viral and cell membranes.
gp120 -- glycoprotein 120, a protein that protrudes from the surface of HIV and binds to CD4+ T cells.
gp160 -- glycoprotein 160, an HIV precursor protein that is cleaved by the HIV protease enzyme into gp41 and gp120.
integrase -- an HIV enzyme used by the virus to integrate its genetic material into the host cell's DNA.
Kaposi's sarcoma -- a type of cancer characterized by abnormal growths of blood vessels that develop into purplish or brown lesions.
killer T cells -- see CD8+ T cells.
lentivirus -- "slow" virus characterized by a long interval between infection and the onset of symptoms. HIV is a lentivirus as is the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), which infects nonhuman primates.
LTR -- long terminal repeat, the RNA sequences repeated at both ends of HIV's genetic material. These regulatory switches may help control viral transcription.
lymphoid organs -- include tonsils, adenoids, lymph nodes, spleen and other tissues. Act as the body's filtering system, trapping invaders and presenting them to squadrons of immune cells that congregate there.
macrophage -- a large immune system cell that devours invading pathogens and other intruders. Stimulates other immune system cells by presenting them with small pieces of the invaders.
monocyte -- a circulating white blood cell that develops into a macrophage when it enters tissues.
opportunistic infection -- an illness caused by an organism that usually does not cause disease in a person with a normal immune system. People with advanced HIV infection suffer opportunistic infections of the lungs, brain, eyes and other organs.
In this article
- Overview
- Scope of the HIV Epidemic
- HIV Is a Retrovirus
- Slow viruses
- Organization of the HIV-1 Virion
- The viral envelope
- The viral core
- Life Cylce of HIV
- Entry of HIV into cells
- Reverse transcription
- Integration
- Transcription
- Translation
- Assembly and budding
- Transmission of HIV
- Early Events in HIV Infection
- Course of HIV Infection
- HIV co-receptors and disease progression
- Viral burden predicts disease progression
- HIV Is Active in the Lymph Nodes
- Breakdown of FDC networks
- Role of CD8+ T Cells
- Rapid Replication and Mutation of HIV
- Theories of Immune System Cell Loss in HIV Infection
- Direct cell killing
- Syncytia formation
- Apoptosis
- Innocent bystanders
- Anergy
- Superantigens
- Damage to Precursor Cells
- Central Nervous System Damage
- Role of Immune Activation in HIV Disease
- NIAID Research on the Pathogenesis of AIDS
- Glossary
Glossary continued...
enzyme -- a protein that accelerates a specific chemical reaction without altering itself.
follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) -- cells found in the germinal centers (B cell areas) of lymphoid organs. FDCs have thread-like tentacles that form a web-like network to trap invaders and present them to B cells, which then make antibodies to attack the invaders.
germinal centers -- structures within lymphoid tissues that contain FDCs and B cells, and in which immune responses are initiated.
gp41 -- glycoprotein 41, a protein embedded in the outer envelope of HIV. Plays a key role in HIV's infection of CD4+ T cells by facilitating the fusion of the viral and cell membranes.
gp120 -- glycoprotein 120, a protein that protrudes from the surface of HIV and binds to CD4+ T cells.
gp160 -- glycoprotein 160, an HIV precursor protein that is cleaved by the HIV protease enzyme into gp41 and gp120.
integrase -- an HIV enzyme used by the virus to integrate its genetic material into the host cell's DNA.
Kaposi's sarcoma -- a type of cancer characterized by abnormal growths of blood vessels that develop into purplish or brown lesions.
killer T cells -- see CD8+ T cells.
lentivirus -- "slow" virus characterized by a long interval between infection and the onset of symptoms. HIV is a lentivirus as is the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), which infects nonhuman primates.
LTR -- long terminal repeat, the RNA sequences repeated at both ends of HIV's genetic material. These regulatory switches may help control viral transcription.
lymphoid organs -- include tonsils, adenoids, lymph nodes, spleen and other tissues. Act as the body's filtering system, trapping invaders and presenting them to squadrons of immune cells that congregate there.
macrophage -- a large immune system cell that devours invading pathogens and other intruders. Stimulates other immune system cells by presenting them with small pieces of the invaders.
monocyte -- a circulating white blood cell that develops into a macrophage when it enters tissues.
opportunistic infection -- an illness caused by an organism that usually does not cause disease in a person with a normal immune system. People with advanced HIV infection suffer opportunistic infections of the lungs, brain, eyes and other organs.
