The role of CD4+ T helper cells in the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to HIV-1

Virus-specific CD4+ T cell help and CD8+ cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses are critical for the maintenance of effective immunity in chronic viral infections. HIV-1 infection presents a unique situation in which HIV-1-specific T helper cell responses are characteristically impaired and virus-specific CTLs wane over time as disease progresses; a relationship exists between T cell help and CTL responses in HIV-1 infection.