Walsh & Hoyt: Life Cycle

The lentivirus life cycle commences with attachment of virus, initially through gp120, to the host cell via the surface receptor CD4 and coreceptors such as CXCR4, CKR5, CKR2b, or CKR3. Productive infection does not require dividing host cells, but rather occurs in terminally differentiated cells, increasing the number of potential host cells for lentiviral infections and increasing the potential gene delivery value for lentiviral vectors in gene therapy. Although direct infection of cells may ultimately lead to cell death or depletion, functional impairment may result from secondary dysfunction of other cell types leading to systemic signs or symptoms, thought to be relevant in HIV-associated encephalopathy or diarrhea. Primary host target cells include T lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, and microglial cells.