Publications by authors named "Alyssa D Brooks"
Inducing latency reversal to reveal infected cells to the host immune system represents a potential strategy to cure HIV infection. In separate studies, we have previously shown that CD8 T cells may contribute to the maintenance of viral latency and identified a novel SMAC mimetic/IAP inhibitor (AZD5582) capable of reversing HIV/SIV latency by activating the non-canonical (nc) NF-κB pathway. Here, we use AZD5582 in combination with antibody-mediated depletion of CD8α cells to further evaluate the role of CD8 T cells in viral latency maintenance.
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- Long-lasting CD4 T cells infected with HIV pose a major challenge for finding a cure, as they can survive even with long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART).
- Inducing HIV from its latent state could help reduce the viral reservoir faster, but previous efforts focused mainly on blood rather than tissue sites and showed limited success.
- The study demonstrates that activating the non-canonical NF-κB pathway with AZD5582 effectively triggers HIV expression in multiple tissues, enhancing potential strategies for HIV eradication when combined with treatments for viral clearance.