HIV and cytokines: An immunopatho- Genetic Liaison

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a pathogenic exogenous human retrovirus responsible for the death of millions of people in the world. It infects and spreads mainly in CD4+ cells (mostly T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes), but it can also profoundly interfere with the host innate and adaptive immune responses inducing their profound dysregulation and exhaustion. In this scenario, HIV alters the production of chemokines and cytokines (regulators of the immune system that are necessary for cellular proliferation, trafficking and activation against viral and bacterial pathogens) in order to favor either its own replication or latency. Conversely, cytokines and chemokines regulate most if not all of the crucial steps of HIV replication, including the regulation of its latent state. This chapter will review these mutual aspects of the interaction between HIV and the cytokine/chemokine network.