Double-negative T cells during HIV/SIV infections: potential pinch hitters in the T-cell lineup.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose of review

This review summarizes the role of CD3+CD4-CD8- double-negative T cells, which have both regulatory and helper T-cell functions and may have the potential to compensate for the reduced levels of CD4 T cells during SIV/HIV infection.

Recent findings

Double-negative T cells have been characterized in several human diseases and in murine models of autoimmunity and transplantation, where they exhibit both immunoregulatory and helper T-cell-like function. During the natural nonpathogenic SIV infection of African nonhuman primates, the lack of clinical disease progression is associated with the presence of double-negative T cells that maintain helper T-cell functions while remaining refractory to viral infection. Moreover, DN T cells may compensate for very low l

SUBMITTER: Sundaravaradan V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3639317 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature