Paucity of HIV DNA methylation in latently infected, resting CD4+ T cells from infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy

J Virol. 2012 May;86(9):5390-2. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00040-12. Epub 2012 Feb 15.

Abstract

Maintenance of HIV latency in vitro has been linked to methylation of HIV DNA. However, examinations of the degree of methylation of HIV DNA in the latently infected, resting CD4(+) T cells of infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy have been limited. Here, we show that methylation of the HIV 5' long terminal repeat (LTR) in the latent viral reservoir of HIV-infected aviremic individuals receiving therapy is rare, suggesting that other mechanisms are likely involved in the persistence of viral latency.

MeSH terms

  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Gene Order
  • Genes, env
  • HIV / genetics*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV Long Terminal Repeat
  • Humans
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Proviruses / genetics*
  • Viral Load
  • Virus Latency*