HMGB1 and HIV-1 Expression

Soluble factors such as cytokines or chemokines have long been shown to modulate viral expression [70]. Both HIV infection itself and other conditions that are frequent in HIV infected patients (cellular stress, immune stimulation, co-infections) may deeply alter the balanced production of these factors. The various and sometimes controversial properties of extracellular HMGB1 lead our laboratory and others to investigate the potential impact of HMGB1 on HIV-1 expression. Two key moments in HIV-1 life cycle may be influenced by extracellular HMGB1: i) the early stages of HIV-1 infection and ii) the expression of the integrated provirus.