Chemokine immunobiology in HIV-1 pathogenesis

The discovery of HIV-1-suppressive chemokines and the subsequent discovery of their cognate receptors as coreceptors for HIV-1 entry herald a paradigmatic shift in the study of HIV-1 pathogenesis. The presence of polymorphisms in chemokine receptor and chemokine genes associated with altered progression and susceptibility to the HIV-1 disease further underscores the potential importance that chemokines and their cognate receptors play in HIV-1 pathogenesis. It has become increasingly apparent that the immune system maintains a delicate balance between the positive and negative regulators that govern the chemokine and cytokine networks. Here we review the most recent developments in chemokine biology and relate how research into their structure, regulation, and the mechanism of their actions can shed light on the immunopathogenesis of HIV-1 disease.