Work

Insights into the Gene Expression Profiles of Active and Restricted Red/Green-HIV + Human Astrocytes: Implications for Shock or Lock Therapies in the Brain

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: More than 36 million people are living with HIV-1 worldwide, and despite antiretroviral therapy, 30 to 50% of the people living with HIV-1 suffer from mild to moderate neurocognitive disorders. HIV-1 reservoirs in the central nervous system (CNS) are challenging to address due to low penetration of antiretroviral drugs, lack of resident T cells, and permanent integration of provirus into neural cells such as microglia and astrocytes. Several studies have shown astrocyte dysfunction during HIV-1 infection. However, little is known about how HIV-1 latency affects their function. The significance of our research is in identifying that the majority of HIV + astrocytes restrict HIV expression and were resistant to reactivation. Further, simply harboring the HIV genome profoundly altered astrocyte biology, resulting in a proinflammatory phenotype and functional changes. In this context, therapeutic strategies to reactivate or silence astrocyte HIV reservoirs, without excising proviral DNA, will likely lead to detrimental neuropathological outcomes during HIV CNS infection.

Source: Journal of Virology

DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01563-19

Authors: Venkata Viswanadh Edara, Anuja Ghorpade, Kathleen Borgmann

Institution: University of North Texas Health Science Center

Language: English

Topic: HIV Research and Treatment

Subfield: Virology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development