Cytotoxic T cells in HIV and other retroviral infections

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Cytotoxic T lymphocytes play a central role in containing the spread of the AIDS virus (HIV) as well as other retroviruses. This publication provides a broad overview of our current understanding of this immune response in the HIV-infected patient. With contributions from major laboratories throughout the world, the effector T lymphocyte response is described in virus-infected humans and also in non-human primates infected with monkey AIDS viruses. The precise molecular events which govern cytotoxic T cell recognition of HIV, the role of these cells in protecting against the progression of AIDS and the contributions of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to clinical manifestations of disease are thoroughly discussed. The functional characterization of these cells as well as their definition in tissues are also described.