Implications of Latent HIV Infection in the Brain

Increased BCL11B (a chromatin modifier) in latently infected brain tissue was associated with increased levels of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative markers.

Little is known about mechanisms of HIV latency in the brain because the cells that serve as reservoirs in this compartment differ from those in the periphery. Given evidence of ongoing neuroinflammation, even in patients with controlled HIV infection, and discussion of HIV eradication (JW AIDS Clin Care Aug 6 2012), demand has increased for an understanding of HIV latency in the central nervous system (CNS). Knowledge in this realm could be useful both in managing HIV-related neurodegeneration and neurocognitive impairment and in developing medications to interrupt transcription silencing.

Using banked postmortem brain tissue from 32 HIV-infected individuals, investigators conducted a case-control study to investigate mechanisms and consequ…

Reviewing Authors

Jennifer L. Lyons, MD

Paul E. Sax, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardGilead Sciences; GlaxoSmithKline/ViiV; Merck; Shionogi

Grant/Research SupportNIH; Gilead Sciences; ViiV

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Clinical Infectious Diseases

Paul E. Sax, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardGilead Sciences; GlaxoSmithKline/ViiV; Merck; Shionogi

Grant/Research SupportNIH; Gilead Sciences; ViiV

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Clinical Infectious Diseases

Implications of Latent HIV Infection in the Brain

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Reviewing Authors