Inflammatory profile assessment in human microglia infected with latent HIV-1 and after latency reversal by viral stimuli.

• Grant number: 23/13896-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Terzi Maricato
• Grantee: Celia Regina Spadacin da Silva
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present project aims to investigate the dynamics of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in human microglia latently infected and to evaluate the impact of the viral latency reversal on the phenotypic profile of this cell type, in other words, the main question is to investigate whether quiescent microglia infected with latent HIV-1 acquires a pro-inflammatory profile after viral latency reversal. Microglia are a resident cell in the Central Nervous System (CNS) that can be infected by HIV-1 and establish a viral reservoir due to HIV-1 latent permanence in this cell type. Although the antiretroviral treatment is effective in reducing the viral load in the circulation, the latent infection persists, preventing the eradication of the virus in the organism and the sterilizing cure of the HIV-1 infection. Latency reversal can be stimulated by several factors, including viral stimuli, and this project will evaluate the inflammatory response of microglia after such stimuli. Understanding the dynamics of infection and the inflammatory response of infected microglia can provide valuable information for the development of more effective strategies to control HIV-1 infection in the SNC and, even, to control and treat co-infections in patients living with HIV-1 virus.