Depletion of HIV reservoir by activation of ISR signaling in resting CD4+ T cells

HIV reservoirs are extremely stable and pose a tremendous challenge to clear HIV infection. Here, we demonstrate that activation of ISR/ATF4 signaling reverses HIV latency, which also selectively eliminates HIV+ cells in primary CD4(+) T cell model of latency without effect on HIV-negative CD4(+) T cells. The reduction of HIV+ cells is associated with apoptosis enhancement, but surprisingly is largely seen in HIV-infected cells in which gag-pol RNA transcripts are detected in HIV RNA-induced ATF4/IFIT signaling. In resting CD4(+) (rCD4(+)) T cells isolated from people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy, induction of ISR/ATF4 signaling reduced HIV reservoirs by depletion of replication-competent HIV without global reduction in the rCD4(+) T cell population. These findings suggest that compromised ISR/ATF4 signaling maintains stable and quiescent HIV reservoirs whereas activation of ISR/ATF4 signaling results in the disruption of latent HIV and clearance of persistently infected CD4(+) T cells.

Automated summary

Activation of ISR/ATF4 signaling can reverse HIV latency and selectively eliminate HIV-positive CD4(+) T cells without affecting HIV-negative CD4(+) T cells.