New Indicators for HIV Progression

According to this article, a new subclass of monocytes, CD163+/CD16+ monocytes, could possibly be excellent indicators of HIV progression. These monocytes are macrophage precursors, and are spectulated to have an intimate role in viral pathology. Though these cells are only shown to have a strong role in indicating the progress of the disease, it is possible that these cells will offer clues on how HIV eventually wins the on average 10 year-long fight with the human immune system.

CD stands for cluster of differentiation, and are receptor tags on white blood cells that are used for identification. New advances in immunochemistry allow immunologists to distinguish between many different types of white blood cells by their cell receptors using monoclonal antibodies. For example, an elevated number of eosinophils, large white blood cells filled with reactive oxygen species, indicates a patient has a parasite.

This article is particular interesting because as we learn more about the human immune system, there will be better ways to diagnose a patient. It may be possible to eventually take a blood sample, look at the body's natural response to the pathogen, and already narrow the pathology signficantly by looking at the subclass of white blood cells that have been upregulated.

Original Article:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HIVAIDS/HIVAIDS/tb/8937