Mechanisms of HIV-1-induced inflammation during active replication in human microglia

Still, the mechanisms leading to inflammatory responses of microglia during HIV-1 infection remain elusive. Here, we show that active HIV-1 replication in human microglia is not associated with a classical antiviral response but rather with the induction of a subset of inflammatory mediators including IL-8 and IL-11 albeit through different mechanisms.

As such, while IL-8 was induced by the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway through the accessory protein Nef, expression of IL-11 relied on a cellular response triggered by sensing the Rev-dependent transcripts and the induction of the MAVS signaling. These data highlight the complex interplay of inflammatory responses during active HIV-1 replication, providing a mechanistic framework for better understanding the role of microglia in neuroinflammation in the CNS of PLWH.