Abstract
Cytoskeletal components play a major role in the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. A wide variety of molecules belonging to the microfilament system, including actin filaments and actin binding proteins, as well as microtubules have a key role in regulating both cell life and death. Cell shape maintenance, cell polarity and cell movements as well as cytoplasmic trafficking of molecules determining cell fate, including apoptosis, are in fact instructed by the cytoskeleton components. HIV infection and viral particle production seem to be controlled by cytoskeleton as well. Furthermore, HIV-associated apoptosis failure can also be regulated by the actin network function. In fact, HIV protein gp120 is able to induce cytoskeleton-driven polarization, thus sensitizing T cells to CD95/Fas-mediated apoptosis. The microfilament system seems thus to be a sort of cytoplasmic supervisor of the viral particle, the host cell and the bystander cell's very fate.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Actin Cytoskeleton / drug effects
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Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism
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Actin Cytoskeleton / virology*
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Animals
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Apoptosis*
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Gene Products, nef / pharmacology
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Gene Products, nef / physiology*
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Gene Products, tat / pharmacology
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Gene Products, tat / physiology*
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Gene Products, vpr / pharmacology
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Gene Products, vpr / physiology*
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HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / pharmacology
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HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / physiology*
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HIV-1 / physiology*
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Humans
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Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
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Microtubules / drug effects
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T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
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T-Lymphocytes / ultrastructure
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T-Lymphocytes / virology*
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Viral Proteins / pharmacology
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Viral Proteins / physiology*
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nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Substances
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Gene Products, nef
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Gene Products, tat
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Gene Products, vpr
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HIV Envelope Protein gp120
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Microfilament Proteins
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Viral Proteins
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nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus