Cell-to-cell contact facilitates HIV transmission from lymphocytes to astrocytes via CXCR4

Abstract excerpt

OBJECTIVES: HIV reservoir in the brain represents a major barrier for curing HIV infection. As the most abundant, long-lived cell type, astrocytes play a critical role in maintaining the reservoir; however, the mechanism of infection remains unknown. Here, we determine how viral transmission occurs from HIV-infected lymphocytes to astrocytes by cell-to-cell contact. DESIGN AND METHODS: Human astrocytes were...