Intracellular HIV-1 Tat regulator induces epigenetic changes in the DNA methylation landscape.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The HIV regulatory protein Tat enhances viral transcription and also modifies host gene expression, affecting cell functions like cell cycle and apoptosis. Residual expression of Tat protein is detected in blood and other tissues even under antiretroviral treatment. Cohort studies have indicated that, despite virologic suppression, people with HIV (PWH) are at increased risk of comorbidities linked to chronic inflammation, accelerated immune ageing, and cellular senescence, sometimes associated with abnormal genomic methylation patterns. We analysed whether Tat influences DNA methylation and subsequently impacts the transcriptional signature, contributing to inflammation and accelerated ageing.

Methods

We transfected Jurkat cells with full-length Tat (Tat101), T

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez-Agustin A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11913862 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature