HIV Infection and Adipose Tissue Resident Stem Cells: Their Involvement in Pathology and Treatment

The HIV reservoir creates a true challenge for eradicating the virus from infected patients. Current Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) is very effective in controlling active viral replication in the periphery, although the drugs may not penetrate efficiently in all cellular and anatomical reservoirs. In these reservoirs, the already established HIV proviruses are stably integrated into the host cell genome and insensitive to antiviral therapy. The anatomical HIV reservoirs in the brain, lymph nodes and other compartments have been well described, but many questions remain on the actual cell types that constitute this reservoir. Recent advances in basic and clinical research have provided a better understanding of Adipose Tissue Resident Stem Cells (ASC) as possible HIV reservoir. Although ASC do not support active viral replication, the cells differentiating from ASC are susceptible to viral infection. A number of approaches have been proposed to characterize the virus from ASC and other cellular reservoirs. A detailed characterization of ASC and its association with HIV may elucidate new cellular targets for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, the current HAART treatment also affects ASC cell growth and division in adipose tissue. Laboratory and animal studies have shown a strong correlation between HAART and lypodystrophy in HIV infected patients treated with antiretroviral drugs. The current review describes disease progression during HIV infection and antiretroviral treatment, with a particular focus on the possible role of ASC as viral reservoir. These observations may suggest future treatment options to obtain better control of this chronic infectious disease.