Toward the unveiling of HIV-1 dynamics: Involvement of monocytes/macrophages in HIV-1 infection

HIV-1 targets the monocyte/macrophage lineage and CD4+ T cells for its replication. The efficiency of infection, replication, cell-to-cell spread differs between these cell types. These differences are caused by various factors such as viral tropism, proteins, host factors, proliferation. However, precise mechanisms how macrophages influence infection have not been fully elucidated. Macrophages long-lived susceptible to predominantly with R5-tropic strains HIV-1. Although co-receptor use switches from CCR5 CXCR4 in up 50% patients during AIDS progression, remain predominant remaining patients. Compared HIV-1-infected cells, infected less HIV-induced cytopathic effects survive more than a few weeks. Efforts cure may be thwarted existence reservoir that cannot targeted ART. Resting lymphocytes thought primary but recent studies demonstrated also act reservoirs. This review will focus on impact monocytes/macrophages establishment reservoirs, approaches toward eradication specifically targeting cells.