HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE TO HIV-1 INFECTION AND ALTERED FUNCTION OF B LYMPHOCYTES

Abstract

Abstract. Over past years, extensive studies were dedicated to pathogenetic mechanisms of HIV-associated disease. In addition to progressive decrease and dysfunction of CD4+T cells, HIV-1 infection also causes intensive defects of humoral immune links. Absence of antiviral immune control leads to infection, and this presents great obstacles when treating the disease and developing an effective vaccine against HIV-1 infection. This review article concerns some features of humoral immunity and disturbed B lymphocyte functions that are studied to lesser degree, with respect to HIV infection pathogenesis.

Keywords

• hiv-1
• b cells
• apoptosis
• vaccine