Proliferation of latently infected CD4⁺ T cells carrying replication-competent HIV-1: Potential role in latent reservoir dynamics.

ABSTRACT: A latent reservoir for HIV-1 in resting CD4⁺ T lymphocytes precludes cure. Mechanisms underlying reservoir stability are unclear. Recent studies suggest an unexpected degree of infected cell proliferation in vivo. T cell activation drives proliferation but also reverses latency, resulting in productive infection that generally leads to cell death. In this study, we show that latently infected cells can proliferate in response to mitogens without producing virus, generating progeny cells that can release infectious virus. Thus, assays relying on one round of activation underestimate reservoir size. Sequencing of independent clonal isolates of replication-competent virus revealed that 57% had env sequences identical to other isolates from the same patient. Identity was conf

SUBMITTER: Hosmane NN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5379987 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature