Toll Like receptor 7 regulates viral loads and cytokine secretion during acute retroviral infection

Abstract

Background: Acute HIV infection is characterized by a high viremia accompanied by a powerful wave of pro-inflammatory cytokines that affects the subsequent course of infection and pathogenesis. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that regulate cytokine secretion and viremia is a key priority. The innate immune receptor TLR7 has been identified a retrovirus-sensing protein, and is expressed in several key immune lineages. In vitro data suggests that HIV can trigger TLR7-dependent innate immune responses, but TLR7s role in vivo is unclear.