Description of event:
Immune Activation in HIV Infection: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
April 3—8, 2013
Beaver Run Resort, Breckenridge, Colorado, USA
Meeting Summary
One major hallmark of
HIV infection is chronic immune activation that promotes
viral replication and drives CD4+
T cell depletion. The mechanisms leading to Immune activation are not well understood, and strategies to dampen it are urgently needed. Immune activation in
HIV infection can stem from foreign
antigen stimulation, including
HIV, microbial products and co-infections as well as compensatory homeostatic mechanisms. Continuous immune stimulation most likely creates a permissive environment for further
viral replication, while temporarily allowing successful replenishment of the
T-cell pool. Type I interferon, microbial translocation, activated (but ineffective) effector
T cells, dysfunctional regulatory
T cells and inadequate T helper 17
cells have all been suggested to play important roles in the cycle of activation, functional exhaustion and T-
cell death that leads to immunodeficiency. In treated
HIV infection, chronic immune activation persists and is implicated in non-infectious
clinical complications of
HIV that account for most of the morbidity and mortality in patients treated with anti-retroviral therapy. The goal of the meeting will be to update the participants on the new insights of mechanisms of immune activation and its deleterious effects on
HIV infection from transmission to chronic treated
infection, and how this knowledge could potentially translate to treatment interventions. Our vision is to bring together basic
science (even beyond
HIV),
immunology,
virology and
clinical science into each session with the hope that participants will interact and be inspired for collaborative translational projects.
General information
Breckenridge is a historic mining town with a Wild West past. Breckenridge was first settled in 1859 following the discovery of gold in the Blue River, which still runs through the middle of town. It has been preserved and restored with Victorian charm, and also includes many wonderful restaurants, shops and museums that detail its infamous past. Meetings and lodging will be at Beaver Run Resort, a 10-minute walk from downtown Breckenridge, with complimentary in town shuttle. The resort offers ski-in/ski-out access at the base of Peak 9. Cross-country skiing, ice-skating, snowmobiling, exercise facility, swimming, massage and spa services, sauna and steam room are also available.
Location
Beaver Run Resort
620 Village Road
PO Box 2115
Breckenridge, Colorado 80424-2115
USA
Contact us
Keystone Symposia
160 U.S. Highway 6, Suite 200
PO Box 1630
Silverthorne, CO 80498