Persistent HIV-1 transcription during ART : time to reassess its significance?

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc..

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-1 reservoirs persist and reignite viral replication if therapy is interrupted. Persistence of the viral reservoir in people with HIV-1 (PWH) is the main obstacle to an HIV-1 cure. The reservoirs are not transcriptionally silent, and viral transcripts can be detected in most ART-treated individuals. Here, we review the recent progress in the characterization of persistent HIV-1 transcription during ART.

RECENT FINDINGS: Evidence from several studies indicates that, although cell-associated unspliced (US) HIV-1 RNA is abundantly expressed in ART-treated PWH, intact full-length US transcripts are rare and most US RNA is derived from defective proviruses. The transcription- and translation-competent defective proviruses, previously considered irrelevant, are increasingly being linked to residual HIV-1 pathogenesis under suppressive ART. Recent data suggest a continuous crosstalk between the residual HIV-1 activity under ART and the immune system. Persistent HIV-1 transcription on ART, despite being mostly derived from defective proviruses, predicts viral rebound upon therapy interruption, suggesting its role as an indicator of the strength of the host antiviral immune response that is shaping the viral rebound.

SUMMARY: In light of the recent findings, the significance of persistent HIV-1 transcription during ART for the long-term health of PWH and the cure research should be reassessed.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:19

Enthalten in:

Current opinion in HIV and AIDS - 19(2024), 3 vom: 01. Apr., Seite 124-132

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Fombellida-Lopez, Céline [VerfasserIn]
Berkhout, Ben [VerfasserIn]
Darcis, Gilles [VerfasserIn]
Pasternak, Alexander O [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Anti-Retroviral Agents
Journal Article
RNA, Viral
Review

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 04.04.2024

Date Revised 05.04.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1097/COH.0000000000000849

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM369921828