The role of Vpr in HIV-1 pathogenesis

The HIV-1 vpr gene is conserved among the human (HIV-1, HIV-2) and simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV). HIV-1 vpr encodes a 96-amino acid, 14 kDa protein (Vpr). Research from a number of laboratories in the last decade has shown that Vpr performs multiple functions, including the induction of cell cycle arrest in the G(2) phase, transactivation of the viral promoter, nuclear import of preintegration complexes, and induction of apoptosis in the infected cell. More recent studies have attempted to elucidate the cellular targets that Vpr utilizes in order to perform the above functions. This review presents the latest findings about the pathogenic events triggered by Vpr, the cellular pathways involved, and the molecular and cellular consequences of the action of Vpr in the context of HIV-1 infection.