A challenge for the future: aging and HIV infection

Immunol Res. 2010 Dec;48(1-3):59-71. doi: 10.1007/s12026-010-8167-9.

Abstract

Older individuals (≥50 years of age) are increasingly becoming a new at-risk group for HIV-1 infection and, together with those surviving longer due to the introduction of anti-retroviral therapy (ART), it is predicted that more than half of all HIV-1-infected individuals in the United States will be greater than 50 years of age in the year 2015. Older individuals diagnosed with HIV-1 are prone to faster disease progression and reduced T-cell reconstitution despite successful virologic control with anti-retroviral therapy (ART). There is also growing evidence that the T-cell compartment in HIV-1(+) adults displays an aged phenotype, and HIV-1-infected individuals are increasingly diagnosed with clinical conditions more commonly seen in older uninfected persons. As aging in the absence of HIV infection is associated with alterations in T-cell function and immunosenescence, the combined impact of both HIV-1 infection and aging may provide an explanation for poorer clinical outcomes observed in older HIV-1-infected individuals. Thus, the development of novel therapeutics to stimulate immune function and delay immunosenescence is critical and would be beneficial to both the elderly and HIV-1-infected individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aging / drug effects
  • Aging / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / trends
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity / drug effects
  • Risk Factors
  • United States