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Role of Divalent Cations in HIV-1 Replication and Pathogenicity
Nabab Khan1, Xuesong Chen1, Jonathan D Geiger1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA.
Insights
Divalent cations impact human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) replication. Modulating these essential minerals may offer new therapeutic strategies for HIV-1 management.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Divalent cations are crucial for cellular processes, including metabolism, growth, and host-pathogen interactions.
- These cations play a key role in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) replication and pathogenicity by mediating viral and host factor interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on the roles of specific divalent cations (zinc, iron, manganese, magnesium, selenium, copper) in HIV-1 replication and pathogenicity.
- To explore the potential of targeting divalent cation homeostasis as a therapeutic strategy for HIV-1 infection.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific articles and studies.
- Analysis of the impact of various divalent cations on HIV-1 replication and disease progression.
- Examination of evidence for therapeutic interventions involving cation modulation.
Main Results:
- Divalent cation levels and their actions are altered during HIV-1 infection.
- Dietary supplementation with divalent cations may enhance HIV-1 replication.
- Cation chelation shows potential in suppressing HIV-1 replication and slowing disease progression.
Conclusions:
- Divalent cations are critical regulators in HIV-1 pathogenesis.
- Therapeutic strategies targeting divalent cation balance represent a promising avenue for managing HIV-1 infection and progression.
Abstract:
Divalent cations are essential for life and are fundamentally important coordinators of cellular metabolism, cell growth, host-pathogen interactions, and cell death. Specifically, for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), divalent cations are required for interactions between viral and host factors that govern HIV-1 replication and pathogenicity. Homeostatic regulation of divalent cations' levels and actions appear to change as HIV-1 infection progresses and as changes occur between HIV-1 and the host. In people living with HIV-1, dietary supplementation with divalent cations may increase HIV-1 replication, whereas cation chelation may suppress HIV-1 replication and decrease disease progression. Here, we review literature on the roles of zinc (Zn2+), iron (Fe2+), manganese (Mn2+), magnesium (Mg2+), selenium (Se2+), and copper (Cu2+) in HIV-1 replication and pathogenicity, as well as evidence that divalent cation levels and actions may be targeted therapeutically in people living with HIV-1.
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