RNA interference and HIV-1 infection.
Life-prolonging antiretroviral therapy remarkably reduces viral load, but it does not eradicate the virus. An important obstacle preventing virus clearance is the presence of latent virion reservoirs in the host. However, new promising antiviral approaches are emerging, and a number of host cell factors involved in the disease progression and control of HIV-1 replication have been recently discovered. For instance, the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism, besides many functions conserved throughout evolution, works as a defence mechanism against noxious transcripts which may provide a new tool to block viral replication. The recent definition of basic RNAi mechanisms, as well as the discovery of micro RNAs (microRNAs) encoded by the host cell genome and by HIV-1, also suggest that RNAi may be involved in the control of HIV replication.
Kanzaki
Luis Isamu Barros
LI
Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
Ornelas
Socrates Souza
SS
Argañaraz
Enrique R
ER
D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017735:Virus Latency; D014779:Virus Replication
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012367:RNA, Viral