Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
Isolation, Transfection, and Culture of Primary Human Monocytes
Published on: December 16, 2019
[Complex interactions between HIV and macrophages]
Anna Bergamaschi1, Annie David1, Gianfranco Pancino1
1Institut Pasteur, unité de régulation des infections rétrovirales, 25, rue du Docteur-Roux, 75015 Paris, France.
Abstract:
Macrophages are cells of the immune system that, with T lymphocytes, are major target for HIV, the pathogen responsible for AIDS. Macrophages play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of the infection, from the entry of the virus through the mucosa to its spreading in body tissues, especially the central nervous system, and contribute to the formation of viral reservoirs. The replication of HIV in macrophages presents similarities but also some differences compared to that in lymphocytes, and requires a number of interactions between viral and host proteins essential for each step of the viral cycle. Nevertheless, many cellular proteins act as restriction factors against the virus, inhibiting different phases of its replication. In this review, we summarise the up-to-date knowledge of the replication cycle of HIV in macrophages and we describe the key role of certain cellular factors implicated in the control of its replication specifically in these cells.
Insights
Macrophages are key targets for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS. This review details HIV replication in macrophages and cellular factors controlling the virus in these immune cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Context:
- Macrophages are crucial immune cells and primary targets for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the causative agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
- Macrophages play a significant role in HIV pathogenesis, including viral entry, dissemination to tissues like the central nervous system, and the establishment of viral reservoirs.
- HIV replication in macrophages shares similarities with, yet possesses distinct differences from, replication in T lymphocytes, involving complex interactions between viral and host proteins.
Purpose:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) replication cycle specifically within macrophages.
- To elucidate the critical roles of cellular factors that regulate and restrict HIV replication in these immune cells.
Summary:
- This review details the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) replication cycle in macrophages, highlighting its unique aspects compared to T lymphocytes.
- It examines the intricate interplay between viral proteins and host cellular factors during HIV infection of macrophages.
- Emphasis is placed on cellular restriction factors that inhibit various stages of HIV replication within macrophages.
Impact:
- Understanding HIV replication in macrophages is vital for developing targeted therapeutic strategies against Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
- Identifying cellular factors that control HIV replication in macrophages can lead to novel approaches for managing viral reservoirs and disease progression.
- This knowledge contributes to the broader field of retrovirology and immune system research.
More Related Videos
07:32Phagosome Migration and Velocity Measured in Live Primary Human Macrophages Infected with HIV-1
Published on: September 5, 2016
07:39An In vitro Co-infection Model to Study Plasmodium falciparum-HIV-1 Interactions in Human Primary Monocyte-derived Immune Cells
Published on: August 15, 2012
