Yang Quan-en
SAIC-Frederick, Inc., Laboratory of Antiviral Drug Mechanisms, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
Med Hypotheses. 2004;62(3):358-63. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2003.10.012.
A unique characteristic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is that the virus must incorporate its cDNA into the host genomic DNA for replication. Once the virus gets into the host genome and becomes a part of the host genetic materials, elimination of the virus without killing the infected cells is virtually impossible. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can result in a substantial decline in viremia. However, HAART does not eradicate HIV. The progressive HIV infection will unavoidably rebound after a cessation of the treatment. Searching for a new combination therapeutic strategy with cytotoxic agents that eliminate or significantly reduce the HIV reservoir is a potential way for better control of the disease. Theoretically, the HIV reservoir can be gradually eradicated by long-term use of certain antimetabolic cytotoxic drugs coupled with proper activation of latently infected cells, if viral replication is completely blocked by antiretroviral chemotherapy to protect uninfected, susceptible cells.
人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染的一个独特特征是，该病毒必须将其互补脱氧核糖核酸（cDNA）整合到宿主基因组DNA中才能进行复制。一旦病毒进入宿主基因组并成为宿主遗传物质的一部分，在不杀死被感染细胞的情况下消除病毒几乎是不可能的。使用高效抗逆转录病毒疗法（HAART）可导致病毒血症大幅下降。然而，HAART并不能根除HIV。治疗中断后，进行性HIV感染将不可避免地反弹。寻找一种新的联合治疗策略，使用细胞毒性药物来消除或显著减少HIV储存库，是更好控制该疾病的一种潜在方法。从理论上讲，如果通过抗逆转录病毒化疗完全阻断病毒复制以保护未感染的易感细胞，长期使用某些抗代谢细胞毒性药物并适当激活潜伏感染细胞，HIV储存库可被逐步根除。
