Activation of Retinoid X Receptors (RXRs) Induces HIV Silencing and Suppresses Inflammation and Immune Activation in Microglial Cells in the CNS.
HIV infects microglial cells in the CNS, inducing inflammation that ultimately leads to the development of HIV-associated neurocognitive disease (HAND). Restriction of HIV expression and inflammation in the CNS is critical for the prevention and treatment of HAND. In this study, we aim to investigate how the retinoid X receptors (RXRs) regulate HIV expression and inflammation in microglial cells. We generated human cerebral organoids with integration of microglial cells by using the same line of IPSC, followed by infection of the organoids with a replication competent HIV-1 and subsequent treatment of the organoids with RXR-specific agonist Bexarotene (BEXA). We then isolated total RNAs from the un-treated and treated organoids and conducted RNA-seq analysis to examine the impact of BEXA on HIV expression and inflammation in the organoids.