HIV latency reversal agents: A potential path for functional cure?

Author(s)

Lopes, Juliana Romano ^{[1, 2]} ; Chiba, Diego Eidy ^[2] ; Dos Santos, Jean Leandro ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Chem, Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, BR-14800903 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY; v. 213, MAR 5 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Despite the advances in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) treatment, the cure for all HIV patients still poses a major challenge, which needs to be surpassed in the coming years. Among the strategies pursuing this aim, the `kick-and-kill' approach, which involves the reactivation and elimination of a latent HIV reservoir that resides in some CD4(+) T cells, appears promising. The first step of this approach requires the use of latency reversal agents (LRAs) that induce the reactivation of the latent virus. Although several classes of LRAs have been reported so far, some limitations of these compounds still need to be overcome before their clinical use. The complete exhaustion of the reservoir of latent virus will contribute to promote the second step of this approach, facilitating the elimination of the reactivated HIV. Therefore, potent, safe, and non-toxic LRAs are necessary to promote efficient elimination of the HIV-1 virus from its reservoir. In this review article, we focus on the promising LRAs that have been described in the literature over the past few years, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of their use in the `kick and kill' approach, thus opening a new avenue in the development of a potential cure. (C) 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/11079-0 - Synthesis and antitubercular activity of new N-oxide compounds designed to treat multiresistant-tuberculosis
• Grantee: Jean Leandro dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants