HIV replication and latency in monocytes and macrophages

The relevance of monocyte and macrophage reservoirs in virally suppressed people with HIV (vsPWH) has previously been debatable. Macrophages were assumed to have a moderate life span and lack self-renewing potential. However, recent studies have challenged this dogma and now suggest an important role of these cell as long-lived HIV reservoirs. Lentiviruses have a long-documented association with macrophages and abundant evidence exists that macrophages are important target cells for HIV in vivo. A critical understanding of HIV infection, replication, and latency in macrophages is needed in order to determine the appropriate method of measuring and eliminating this cellular reservoir. This review provides a brief discussion of the biology and acute and chronic infection of monocytes and macrophages, with a more substantial focus on replication, latency and measurement of the reservoir in cells of myeloid origin.

Automated summary

Recent studies have challenged the previous belief that macrophages have a moderate lifespan and lack self-renewal potential, instead suggesting an important role as long-lived HIV reservoirs. It is critical to understand HIV infection, replication, and latency in macrophages in order to determine the appropriate method for measuring and eliminating this cellular reservoir. This review provides insight into the biology and infection dynamics of monocytes and macrophages, emphasizing the importance of replication, latency, and reservoir measurement in myeloid cells.