Selective cell death in HIV-1-infected cells by DDX3 inhibitors leads to depletion of the inducible reservoir

Abstract

DEAD-box polypeptide 3 (DDX3) is a host protein belonging to the family of ATP-dependent RNA helicases. Here, the authors demonstrate that DDX3 inhibitors reverse HIV-1 latency and selectively induce cell death in HIV-1-infected cell lines, primary CD4+ T cells and in CD4+ T cells from cART-suppressed people living with HIV-1.