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Epigenetic silencing and blockade of latency reversal by an HIV-1 encoded antisense transcript

Li, R.; Daneshvar, K.; Ji, X.; Pleet, M.; Igbinosun, G.; Iqbal, M. S.; Kashanchi, F.; Mullen, A.; Romerio, F.

2024-12-07 molecular biology
10.1101/2024.12.06.627241 bioRxiv
Show abstract

The mechanisms that regulate human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) latency are not fully elucidated. We reported that an HIV-1 antisense transcript (AST) induces epigenetic modifications at the HIV-1 promoter causing a closed chromatin state that suppresses viral transcription. Here we show that ectopic expression of AST in CD4+ T-cells from people with HIV-1 under antiretroviral therapy blocks latency reversal in response to pharmacologic and T-cell receptor stimulation, enforcing transcriptional silencing. We define structural domains and sequence motifs of AST contributing to its latency-promoting functions. Finally, we report an unbiased proteomics screen of AST interactors that revealed an array of previously known and potential new HIV-1-suppressive factors. Our studies identify AST as a first-in-class biological molecule capable of enforcing HIV-1 latency and with actionable curative potential.

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