NSC95397 Is a Novel HIV-1 Latency-Reversing Agent

The latent viral reservoir represents one of the major barriers to curing HIV-1. Focus on the “kick and kill” (also called “shock and kill”) approach, in which virus expression is reactivated, and then cells producing virus are selectively depleted, has led to the discovery of many latency-reversing...

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Main Authors: Randilea Nichols Doyle, Vivian Yang, Yetunde I. Kayode, Robert Damoiseaux, Harry E. Taylor, Oliver I. Fregoso
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/11/1783
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author Randilea Nichols Doyle
Vivian Yang
Yetunde I. Kayode
Robert Damoiseaux
Harry E. Taylor
Oliver I. Fregoso
author_facet Randilea Nichols Doyle
Vivian Yang
Yetunde I. Kayode
Robert Damoiseaux
Harry E. Taylor
Oliver I. Fregoso
author_sort Randilea Nichols Doyle
collection DOAJ
description The latent viral reservoir represents one of the major barriers to curing HIV-1. Focus on the “kick and kill” (also called “shock and kill”) approach, in which virus expression is reactivated, and then cells producing virus are selectively depleted, has led to the discovery of many latency-reversing agents (LRAs) that have furthered our understanding of the mechanisms driving HIV-1 latency and latency reversal. Thus far, individual compounds have yet to be robust enough to work as a therapy, highlighting the importance of identifying new compounds that target novel pathways and synergize with known LRAs. In this study, we identified a promising LRA, NSC95397, from a screen of ~4250 compounds. We validated that NSC95397 reactivates latent viral transcription and protein expression from cells with unique integration events and across different latency models. Co-treating cells with NSC95397 and known LRAs demonstrated that NSC95397 synergizes with different drugs under both standard normoxic and physiological hypoxic conditions. NSC95397 does not globally increase open chromatin, and bulk RNA sequencing revealed that NSC95397 does not greatly increase cellular transcription. Instead, NSC95397 downregulates pathways key to metabolism, cell growth, and DNA repair—highlighting the potential of these pathways in regulating HIV-1 latency. Overall, we identified NSC95397 as a novel LRA that does not largely alter global transcription, shows potential for synergy with known LRAs, and may act through novel pathways not previously recognized for their ability to modulate HIV-1 latency.
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spelling doaj-art-a67a2d6bf0d74c61bfdbeec191cde0be2024-11-26T18:25:39ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152024-11-011611178310.3390/v16111783NSC95397 Is a Novel HIV-1 Latency-Reversing AgentRandilea Nichols Doyle0Vivian Yang1Yetunde I. Kayode2Robert Damoiseaux3Harry E. Taylor4Oliver I. Fregoso5Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USADepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USACalifornia NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USADepartment of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USAThe latent viral reservoir represents one of the major barriers to curing HIV-1. Focus on the “kick and kill” (also called “shock and kill”) approach, in which virus expression is reactivated, and then cells producing virus are selectively depleted, has led to the discovery of many latency-reversing agents (LRAs) that have furthered our understanding of the mechanisms driving HIV-1 latency and latency reversal. Thus far, individual compounds have yet to be robust enough to work as a therapy, highlighting the importance of identifying new compounds that target novel pathways and synergize with known LRAs. In this study, we identified a promising LRA, NSC95397, from a screen of ~4250 compounds. We validated that NSC95397 reactivates latent viral transcription and protein expression from cells with unique integration events and across different latency models. Co-treating cells with NSC95397 and known LRAs demonstrated that NSC95397 synergizes with different drugs under both standard normoxic and physiological hypoxic conditions. NSC95397 does not globally increase open chromatin, and bulk RNA sequencing revealed that NSC95397 does not greatly increase cellular transcription. Instead, NSC95397 downregulates pathways key to metabolism, cell growth, and DNA repair—highlighting the potential of these pathways in regulating HIV-1 latency. Overall, we identified NSC95397 as a novel LRA that does not largely alter global transcription, shows potential for synergy with known LRAs, and may act through novel pathways not previously recognized for their ability to modulate HIV-1 latency.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/11/1783latencylatency reversalHIV cure
spellingShingle Randilea Nichols Doyle
Vivian Yang
Yetunde I. Kayode
Robert Damoiseaux
Harry E. Taylor
Oliver I. Fregoso
NSC95397 Is a Novel HIV-1 Latency-Reversing Agent
Viruses
latency
latency reversal
HIV cure
title NSC95397 Is a Novel HIV-1 Latency-Reversing Agent
title_full NSC95397 Is a Novel HIV-1 Latency-Reversing Agent
title_fullStr NSC95397 Is a Novel HIV-1 Latency-Reversing Agent
title_full_unstemmed NSC95397 Is a Novel HIV-1 Latency-Reversing Agent
title_short NSC95397 Is a Novel HIV-1 Latency-Reversing Agent
title_sort nsc95397 is a novel hiv 1 latency reversing agent
topic latency
latency reversal
HIV cure
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/11/1783
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