Rev-RRE activity modulates HIV-1 replication and latency reactivation: Implications for viral persistence and cure strategies.

ABSTRACT: The HIV-1 Rev-RRE regulatory axis plays a crucial role in viral replication by facilitating the nucleo-cytoplasmic export and expression of viral mRNAs with retained introns. In this study, we investigated the impact of variation in Rev-RRE functional activity on HIV-1 replication kinetics and reactivation from latency. Using a novel HIV-1 viral vector with an interchangeable Rev cassette, we engineered viruses with two diverse Rev functional activities and demonstrated that higher Rev-RRE activity confers greater viral replication capacity while maintaining a constant level of Nef expression. In addition, a low Rev activity virus rapidly acquired a compensatory mutation in the RRE that significantly increased Rev-RRE activity and replication. In a latency model, proviruses with differing

SUBMITTER: Dzhivhuho GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12080775 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature