1. How to engage Cofilin.
- Author
-
Bukrinsky, Michael
- Subjects
DRUG development ,ANTIRETROVIRAL agents ,POLYMERIZATION ,ACTIN ,VIRAL replication ,CD4 antigen ,T cells - Abstract
In HIV-infected people, resting CD4+ T cells are the main reservoir of latent virus and the reason for the failure of drug therapy to cure HIV infection. Still, we do not have a complete understanding of the factors regulating HIV replication in these cells. A recent paper in Cell describes a new trick that the virus uses to infect resting T cells. Interaction between the viral gp120 and cellular HIV coreceptor, CXCR4, during viral entry initiates signaling that activates cofilin, the main regulator of actin polymerization. As a result of this activation, actin is depolymerized, thus destroying the natural barrier to HIV replication. I discuss implications of this study for our understanding of HIV biology and development of novel anti-HIV therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF