HIV-INFECTION AND THE GUT

The pathogenesis of immune depletion in HIV infection is complex. Rela tively little study has been made of the gastrointestinal manifestatio ns, despite the fact that the gastrointestinal tract is a major lympho id organ. The articles chosen for this review update the knowledge bas e about the virus and its ability to infect and lead to destruction of CD4(+) lymphocytes. The topics discussed include mucosal transmission , cellular reservoirs, factors affecting cellular infection, and facto rs affecting cell death. Studies related to HIV in the gastrointestina l tract are discussed in this context. It is likely that key events in disease pathogenesis occur in the gastrointestinal tract.