X-Linked RNA-Binding Motif Protein Modulates HIV-1 Infection of CD4 + T Cells by Maintaining the Trimethylation of Histone H3 Lysine 9 at the Downstream Region of the 5′ Long Terminal Repeat of HIV Proviral DNA

Abstract

HIV-1 latency featuring silence of transcription from HIV-1 proviral DNA represents a major obstacle for HIV-1 eradication. Reversible repression of HIV-1 5′-LTR-mediated transcription represents the main mechanism for HIV-1 to maintain latency. The 5′-LTR-driven HIV gene transcription can be modulated by multiple host factors and mechanisms. The hnRNPs are known to regulate gene expression. A member of the hnRNP family, RBMX, has been identified in this study as a novel HIV-1 restriction factor that modulates HIV-1 5′-LTR-driven transcription of viral genome in CD4 + T cells and maintains viral latency. These findings provide a new understanding of how host factors modulate HIV-1 infection and latency and suggest a potential new target for the development of HIV-1 therapies.