Augmentation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Gene Expression by Tumor Necrosis Factor α

It is now well established that cytokines are involved in the regulation of gene expression from HIV-1 LTR. The present study provides evidence that TNF-α stimulates HIV-1 gene expression and that the enhancer sequence within the HIV-1 LTR is involved in the stimulation. These results support the idea that immunologic stimulation and infection may trigger the development of clinical AIDS in individuals latently infected with HIV-1.