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Editorial
. 2016;14(2):145-8.
doi: 10.1586/14787210.2016.1122525. Epub 2015 Dec 11.

Didehydro-Cortistatin A: a new player in HIV-therapy?

Guillaume Mousseau  1 , Susana T Valente  1
Affiliations
Editorial

Didehydro-Cortistatin A: a new player in HIV-therapy?

Guillaume Mousseau et al. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2016.

Abstract

Antiretroviral therapy can effectively suppress HIV-1 infection but is ineffective against integrated proviruses. A latent viral reservoir composed of latently infected CD4(+)T cells persists under suppressive therapy, and infected individuals must remain indefinitely on antiretroviral therapy to prevent viral reactivation and propagation. Despite therapy, some degree of low-level ongoing replication is detected and transient viral reactivation may replenish the latent reservoir. An analog of the natural compound, Cortistatin A, blocks HIV-1 transcription by specifically targeting the viral transactivator, Tat. Treatment of latently infected cells with this Tat inhibitor promotes a state of deep-latency from which HIV reactivation capacity is greatly diminished. Here we discuss the use of Tat inhibitors to limit the latent reservoir to achieve a functional cure.

Keywords: HIV latency; HIV transcription; Tat inhibitor; antiretroviral therapy; deep-latency; didehydro-Cortistatin A; functional cure; latent reservoir; viral reactivation.

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