Inhibition of HIV Replication in Resting CD4+ Lymphocytes by Murr1
Description of Invention:
This technology describes the inhibition of HIV-1 growth in resting CD4+ T cells by Murr1, a highly conserved protein. This finding therefore could be used to prolong the asymptomatic phase of HIV infection. HIV-1 infects both proliferative and quiescent CD4+ T cells, although the virus replicates poorly in the latter. It has been demonstrated that Murr1 restricts HIV-1 replication by inhibiting basal and cytokine nuclear factor (NF)-kB activity. Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) experiments that used specific Murr1 siRNAs resulted in lower levels of IkB-A and higher NF-kB activity and HIV-1 replication. These results allude to the potential for a more effective HIV therapeutic that uses Murr1 to regulate viral replication. A Murr1 anti-viral drug that can block viral replication in quiescent lymphocytes and latent cells with provirus might increase the number of patients that remain in the HIV-1 asymptomatic phase and thus lower the number that progress to the AIDS state.
This technology is further described in Ganesh et al., Nature (18/25 December 2003), 426(6968): 853-857.
For Additional Information Please Contact: Susan Ano Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5515
Email: anos@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
