Epigenetic Regulation of HIV-1 Latency in Astrocytes

HIV infiltrates the brain at early times postinfection and remains latent within astrocytes and macrophages. Because astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the brain, we evaluated epigenetic regulation of HIV latency in astrocytes. We have shown that class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) and a lysine-specific histone methyltransferase, SU(VAR)3-9, play a significant role in silencing of HIV transcription in astrocytes. Our studies add to a growing body of evidence demonstrating that astrocytes are a reservoir for HIV.