Arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis contributes to suppression of viral reservoir in SIV-infected rhesus macaques

<p>Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) can effectively suppress the viral load of AIDS patients, it cannot functionally cure HIV infection due to the existence of HIV reservoir. Strategies toward HIV functional cure are still highly anticipated to ultimately end the pandemic of AIDS. Herein, we investigated the direct role of As₂O₃ independent of ART in chronically SIV-infected macaques and explored the underlying mechanisms of the potential of As₂O₃ in the treatment of HIV/SIV infection. Meanwhile, we investigated the therapeutic effects of ART+As₂O₃ in acutely SIVmac239-infected macaques. This study showed that As₂O₃ has the potential to be launched into the "shock-and-kill" strategy to suppress HIV/SIV reservoir due to its latency-reversing and apoptosis-inducing properties.</p>