HIV Persistence in Adipose Tissue Reservoirs
Jacob Couturier1, Dorothy E Lewis2
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St., MSB 2.112, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
Current HIV/AIDS Reports
|February 10, 2018
Summary
Adipose tissue harbors latent HIV, posing a challenge for eradication. Immune cells within fat depots interact with adipocytes, potentially fueling viral persistence despite limited antiretroviral drug penetration.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Adipose tissue is increasingly recognized as a significant reservoir for persistent HIV infection.
- Memory CD4 T cells and macrophages are key host cells for HIV that accumulate in adipose tissue during infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on adipose tissue as a reservoir for HIV-1.
- To understand how adipose tissue contributes to HIV persistence.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on HIV reservoirs in adipose tissue.
- Analysis of immune cell populations and viral presence in adipose tissue.
- Assessment of adipocyte-immune cell interactions and drug distribution.
Main Results:
- Latently HIV-infected CD4 T cells are replication-competent and infectious within adipose tissue.
- Adipocytes promote immune cell activation and inflammation, supporting HIV persistence.
- Antiretroviral drug penetration into adipose tissue is limited and may be class-specific.
Conclusions:
- Adipose tissue serves as a critical reservoir for latent HIV, complicating eradication efforts.
- Immune cell interactions and inflammation within adipose tissue contribute to viral persistence.
- The unique characteristics of adipose tissue present a significant hurdle for achieving an HIV cure.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Veins as Blood Reservoirs
8.0K
Veins, while chiefly responsible for circulating blood back to the heart, also function as storage vessels for blood. They house approximately 64 percent of the body's total blood volume, a feat made possible by their high capacitance—the inherent ability to expand and accommodate large volumes of blood, even under low pressure. The large diameter and thin walls of veins augment their distensibility, significantly more so than arteries, due to their classification as capacitance...
8.0K
01:18Tissues
85.8K
Cells with similar structure and function are grouped into tissues. A group of tissues with a specialized function is called an organ. There are four main types of tissue in vertebrates: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous.
85.8K
01:25Tissues
69.9K
Tissues are a group of cells that share a common embryonic origin. Microscopic observation reveals that the cells in a tissue share morphological features and are arranged in an orderly pattern to perform specific functions. From an evolutionary perspective, tissues appear in more complex organisms. Although there are many types of cells in the human body, they are organized into four broad categories of tissues: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous. Each of these categories is...
69.9K
02:01Plant Cells and Tissues
65.9K
Plant tissues are collections of similar cells performing related functions. Different plant tissues will have their own specialized roles and can be combined with other tissues to form organs such as flowers, fruit, stem, and leaves. Two major types of plant tissue include meristematic and permanent tissue.
65.9K
02:57Plant Tissue Culture
40.8K
Plant tissue culture is widely used in both primary and applied science. Applications range from plant development studies to functional gene studies, crop improvement, commercial micropropagation, virus elimination, and conservation of rare species.
40.8K
01:27Tissue Membranes
8.5K
A tissue membrane is a thin layer of cells that covers the outside of the body, the organs, internal passageways that lead to the exterior of the body, and the lining of the moveable joint cavities. There are two basic types of tissue membranes— connective tissue and epithelial membranes.
Connective Tissue Membranes
The connective tissue membrane is formed solely from connective tissue. These membranes encapsulate organs, such as the kidneys, and line our movable joints. A synovial...
Connective Tissue Membranes
The connective tissue membrane is formed solely from connective tissue. These membranes encapsulate organs, such as the kidneys, and line our movable joints. A synovial...
8.5K