Reservoir of human immunodeficiency virus in the brain: New insights into the role of T cells

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of the central nervous system (CNS) has attracted significant attention because it contributes to severe complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and seriously impairs the life quality of infected patients. In this review, we briefly describe the latent infection of HIV in CNS and focus on the role of the important immune cells, such as T cells, in the formation and maintenance of the HIV reservoir in CNS. This review explores the mechanisms by which T cells enter CNS and establish latent infection of HIV in the CNS. In conclusion, we summarize the role of these cells in the interaction between HIV and CNS. With our better understanding of the underlying mechanisms, we propose future directions for the development of novel strategies to eliminate HIV reservoirs in the CNS based on cellular components.