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Isolation, Transfection, and Culture of Primary Human Monocytes
Published on: December 16, 2019
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HIV replication and latency in monocytes and macrophages
Rebecca T Veenhuis1, Celina M Abreu1, Erin N Shirk1
1Department of Molecular and Comparative Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Seminars in Immunology
|March 2, 2021
Summary
Macrophages are now recognized as critical long-lived HIV reservoirs. Understanding HIV infection, replication, and latency in these cells is vital for developing strategies to eliminate the viral reservoir in people with HIV.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Monocyte and macrophage reservoirs in virally suppressed people with HIV (vsPWH) were previously debated.
- Macrophages were traditionally considered to have moderate lifespans and limited self-renewal.
- Recent research indicates macrophages play a significant role as long-lived HIV reservoirs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biology of monocytes and macrophages in HIV infection.
- To focus on HIV replication, latency, and reservoir measurement in myeloid cells.
- To address the need for understanding macrophage reservoirs for HIV cure strategies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on monocyte and macrophage biology.
- Analysis of research on HIV infection, replication, and latency in myeloid cells.
- Discussion of methods for measuring HIV reservoirs in macrophages.
Main Results:
- Macrophages are increasingly recognized as important, long-lived HIV reservoirs.
- HIV establishes infection and latency within macrophages in vivo.
- Understanding macrophage biology is crucial for reservoir elimination.
Conclusions:
- Macrophages are key cellular reservoirs for HIV, challenging previous assumptions.
- Further research into HIV replication and latency in macrophages is essential.
- Effective strategies to eliminate the HIV reservoir must target these myeloid cells.
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