title: HIV: a raft-targeting approach for prevention and therapy using plant-derived compounds (review).
abstract: It has been widely accepted that HIV-1 enters into and buds out from microdomains known as lipid rafts/caveolae of plasma membranes of infected cells. Since lipid rafts are recognized sites for budding and entry of HIV-1, and since lipids in rafts (including composition/dynamic structure) play a crucial role in modulating the functions of raft-associated signaling proteins and receptors, it has been consistently shown that modulating the composition/structure of lipid rafts have influenced the life cycle of HIV-1 inhibiting its replication. Since anti-retroviral multi-drugs treatment has severe side effects, one of the strategies could be to block the HIV-1 entry and its replication using natural compounds that can target lipid rafts. Dietary and plant-derived compounds have advantage over synthetic drugs exhibiting minimum side effects and are available in cost effective manner. Studies exploring the effects of dietary and plant-derived compounds targeting lipid rafts could be an evolving strategy to control the progression of AIDS. This article is intended to review: (i) composition/structure and conditions for the formation of lipid rafts in plasma membranes, (ii) interaction of HIV-1 with lipid rafts and (iii) to introduce a novel concept that dietary and plant-derived compounds, which can target lipid rafts, could have potential preventive/therapeutic values against the progression of AIDS. More emphasis has been given to the roles of omega-3 fatty acids and plant-derived various triterpenes, especially euphane-types of triterpenes extracted from Neem tree, targeting lipid rafts and its major component cholesterol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health/Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02111, USA. surendra.verma@tufts.edu
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D021941:Caveolae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D010840:Phytosterols; D028321:Plant Preparations; D013107:Sphingolipids; D014315:Triterpenes; D002784:Cholesterol