Chemokines and chemokine receptors: role in HIV infection

Our understanding of the host factors that determine susceptibility and pro gression of HIV infection has been very limited. In particular, it has been not clear why some people remain uninfected being repeatedly exposed to HI V-1, and others who have been infected by HIV, remain clinically asymptomat ic for long periods of time. Recently it has been demonstrated that mutated forms of a number of chemokine receptors that act as coreceptors for HIV-1 entry may account for some of these phenomena. Furthermore, chemokines suc h as RANTES and others, being the natural ligands for chemokine receptors, have been shown to be effective inhibitors of HIV-1 infection. In this revi ew we discuss some of the genetic, immunological, virological and epidemiol ogical data relevant to the very important role chemokines and chemokine re ceptors play in HIV pathogenesis with special reference to the increased su sceptibility of the African host to HIV infection. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.