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Updated: Mar 17, 2026
In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function
Published on: October 15, 2013
Manipulation of immunometabolism by HIV-accessories to the crime?
Nicholas J Matheson1, Edward Jd Greenwood1, Paul J Lehner1
1Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.
Abstract:
Evolutionary pressure has produced an 'arms race' between cellular restriction factors (limiting viral replication) and viral proteins (overcoming host restriction). The host factors SAMHD1 and SLFN1 patrol metabolic bottlenecks required for HIV replication. Conversely, the HIV accessory proteins Vpx, Vpu and Nef manipulate cellular metabolism to enable viral replication. Recent work identifying Vpu-mediated downregulation of the alanine transporter SNAT1 and Nef-mediated downregulation of the serine carriers SERINC3/5 has uncovered the importance of HIV manipulation of the amino acid supply. Interference with CD4(+) T-cell amino acid metabolism suggests a novel paradigm of viral immunomodulation, and signposts fundamental aspects of lymphocyte biology.
