TREM-1 Protects HIV-1-Infected Macrophages from Apoptosis through Maintenance of Mitochondrial Function

Abstract

The major challenge to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment is the development of strategies that lead to viral eradication. A roadblock to accomplishing this goal is the lack of an approach that would safely eliminate HIV from all resting/latent reservoirs, including macrophages. Macrophages are a key part of the innate immune system and are responsible for recognizing invading microbes and sending appropriate signals to other immune cells. Here, we found that HIV induces the upregulation of the protein TREM1 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1), which signals an increase in the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, thus promoting survival of HIV-infected macrophages.