It combines immune dysfunctions (CD4 depletion, which is partially restored; defects in immunomodulatory mechanisms, and gut disruption), metabolic inflammation (“meta-inflammation”), inflammation associated with pathogen persistence/overload (leading to constant immune activation, i.e. “infectious inflammation”) and “inflammageing” (HIV infection has been linked to accentuated ageing) (3). The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is HIV infectious disease.