A novel complex of proteins binds the HIV-1 promoter upon virus interaction with CD4

Therapeutic targeting of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 latency: current clinical realities and future scientific possibilities

Factors affecting HIV-1 latency present formidable obstacles for therapeutic intervention. As these obstacles have become a clinical reality, even with the use of potent anti-retroviral regimens, the need for novel therapeutic strategies specifically targeting HIV-1 latency is evident. However, therapeutic targeting of HIV-1 latency requires an understanding of the mechanisms regulating viral quiescence and activation. These mechanisms have been partially delineated using chronically infected cell models and, clearly, HIV-1 activation from latency involves several key viral and cellular components. Among these distinctive therapeutic targets, cellular factors involved in HIV-1 transcription especially warrant further consideration for rational drug design. Exploring the scientific possibilities of new therapies targeting HIV-1 latency may hold new promise of eventual HIV-1 eradication.

The synthetic CD4 exocyclic CDR3.AME(82-89) inhibits NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, HIV-1 promoter activation, and viral gene expression

We have previously shown that the synthetic aromatically modified exocyclic (AME) analog (CDR3.AME(82-89), derived from the CDR3 (residues 82-89) region of CD4 domain 1, inhibits replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in infected cells. In this work, we investigated the mechanism by which this inhibition is achieved. Although cells exposed to HIV-1 and treated with the CDR3.AME(82-89) peptide did not release viral particles for more than a week and kept surface expression of CD4, viral DNA was found in those cells 24 h after virus exposure, indicating that the CDR3.AME(82-89) analog does not prevent virus entry. However, virus transcription remained extremely low in infected cells, as demonstrated by the study of spliced HIV-1 mRNA in cultures treated with CDR3.AME(82-89) 72 h postinfection. Finally, the CDR3.AME(82-89) peptide was found to be a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 promoter activity and nuclear factor-kappaB translocation, indicating that the antiviral property of this peptide is, at least in part, linked with the ability of the molecule to prevent HIV-1 transcription.