title: Modulation of apoptosis and viral latency - an axis to be well understood for successful cure of human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of the deadly disease AIDS, which is characterized by the progressive decline of CD4(+)T-cells. HIV-1-encoded proteins such as envelope gp120 (glycoprotein gp120), Tat (trans-activator of transcription), Nef (negative regulatory factor), Vpr (viral protein R), Vpu (viral protein unique) and protease are known to be effective in modulating host cell signalling pathways that lead to an alteration in apoptosis of both HIV-infected and uninfected bystander cells. Depending on the stage of the virus life cycle and host cell type, these viral proteins act as mediators of pro- or anti-apoptotic signals. HIV latency in viral reservoirs is a persistent phenomenon that has remained beyond the control of the human immune system. To cure HIV infections completely, it is crucial to reactivate latent HIV from cellular pools and to drive these apoptosis-resistant cells towards death. Several previous studies have reported the role of HIV-encoded proteins in apoptosis modulation, but the molecular basis for apoptosis evasion of some chronically HIV-infected cells and reactivated latently HIV-infected cells still needs to be elucidated. The current review summarizes our present understanding of apoptosis modulation in HIV-infected cells, uninfected bystander cells and latently infected cells, with a focus on highlighting strategies to activate the apoptotic pathway to kill latently infected cells.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, South Asian University, New Delhi- 110021, India.
authors.forename: Uddhav
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Timilsina
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, South Asian University, New Delhi- 110021, India.
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaur
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016333:HIV Protease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000276:immunology*; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D016333:HIV Protease; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C514837:nef protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; C514912:vpr protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; C514859:vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins; C514803:p16 protease, Human immunodeficiency virus 1