AIDS-related cytomegalovirus retinitis: Lessons from the laboratory.

The article focuses on AIDS-related human cytomegalovirus retinitis. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a lymphotropic herpesvirus and persons immunosuppressed by HIV-1 infection are particularly susceptible to a sight-threatening retinitis caused by direct HCMV infection of retinal tissues. It is well-known that HCMV is a cell-associated virus and that HCMV can be excreted in saliva and urine in the presence of antibody. Clinical studies have demonstrated that loss of cellular immunity plays a prominent role in onset of HCMV retinitis during progression of HIV/AIDS. AIDS patients might benefit from therapy using exogenously administered cytokines, especially interleukin-2 that is a major product of TH1 helper T-cells and known to stimulate T cells and NK cells.