idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Nachrichten, Termine, Experten

Grafik: idw-Logo
Science Video Project
idw-Abo

idw-News App:

AppStore

Google Play Store



Instanz:
Teilen: 
02.06.2022 23:32

New insights on the path to curing chronic HIV infections

Dr. Nicola Wittekindt Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung

    AIDS, an immunodeficiency disease caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is one of the ten leading causes of death worldwide. Thanks to antiviral therapies, the disease can be treated, but there is still no cure. A large-scale comparative study by scientists at the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf indicates a critical role of a group of specialised immune cells in suppressing the antiviral immune response of HIV-infected patients.

    HIV predominantly infects cells of the immune system, in particular so-called regulatory T cells. Their function is to suppress overactivation of the immune system and thus prevent the development of autoimmune diseases. Regulatory T cells carry various proteins on their surfaces, including the enzymes CD39 and CD73. Their task is to convert immune response-activating molecules into immune response-suppressing substances.

    In people with HIV infection, it is already known that expression of these enzymes on the surface of regulatory T cells and other immune cells changes in relation to disease parameters, such as the amount of viruses in the body. Previous studies have also shown that CD39-expressing T cells produce a messenger that inhibits other immune cells.

    A research team now compared the expression of CD39 and CD73 enzymes on the surface of regulatory T cells between HIV-infected individuals in different stages of disease and therapy (with or without therapy with antiretroviral drugs) and healthy volunteers.

    In the large-scale comparative cohort study, the researchers, led by Prof Schulze zur Wiesch of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, found that the number of CD73-expressing T cells decreased and the number of CD39-expressing T cells increased during the course of HIV infection. Furthermore, the amount of CD39-expressing T cells correlated with the condition of the patients: the more CD39-expressing T cells they had, the worse their health.

    "The results from our study indicate that CD39- and CD73-expressing T cells alter the immune response during disease development of chronic HIV infection," says Prof Schulze zur Wiesch. "As a result, these T cells prevent the patients' immune system from effectively fighting HI viruses" he adds.

    Future studies might help to better understand the effects of changes in CD39 and CD73 expression on regulatory T cells, as well as the function of regulatory T cells in HIV, in order to develop long-term cures for infection with HIV.


    Wissenschaftliche Ansprechpartner:

    Prof. Dr. Julian Schulze zur Wiesch
    +49 40 7410 52831
    j.schulze-zur-wiesch[at]uke.de


    Originalpublikation:

    https://www.dzif.de/en/publication/inversed-ratio-cd39cd73-expression-gd-t-cells...


    Weitere Informationen:

    https://www.dzif.de/en/new-insights-path-curing-chronic-hiv-infections


    Bilder

    Electron microscopic image of HIV particles
    Electron microscopic image of HIV particles
    Harrison, Feorino, Palmer
    Harrison, Feorino, Palmer / CDC


    Merkmale dieser Pressemitteilung:
    Journalisten, Wissenschaftler
    Biologie, Medizin
    überregional
    Forschungsergebnisse, Wissenschaftliche Publikationen
    Englisch


     

    Electron microscopic image of HIV particles


    Zum Download

    x

    Hilfe

    Die Suche / Erweiterte Suche im idw-Archiv
    Verknüpfungen

    Sie können Suchbegriffe mit und, oder und / oder nicht verknüpfen, z. B. Philo nicht logie.

    Klammern

    Verknüpfungen können Sie mit Klammern voneinander trennen, z. B. (Philo nicht logie) oder (Psycho und logie).

    Wortgruppen

    Zusammenhängende Worte werden als Wortgruppe gesucht, wenn Sie sie in Anführungsstriche setzen, z. B. „Bundesrepublik Deutschland“.

    Auswahlkriterien

    Die Erweiterte Suche können Sie auch nutzen, ohne Suchbegriffe einzugeben. Sie orientiert sich dann an den Kriterien, die Sie ausgewählt haben (z. B. nach dem Land oder dem Sachgebiet).

    Haben Sie in einer Kategorie kein Kriterium ausgewählt, wird die gesamte Kategorie durchsucht (z.B. alle Sachgebiete oder alle Länder).