Interleukin-6 and Glucocorticoids Synergistically Induce Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Expression in Chronically Infected U1 Cells by a Long Terminal Repeat Independent Post-Transcriptional Mechanism

Abstract

High levels of virion production can be induced in latently infected cells by stimulation with IL-6 and Dex in the absence of activation of the HIV LTR or viral transcription in spite of activation of both ERK1/2 MAPK and AP-1. These findings suggest the existence of LTR-independent pathways influenced by cytokine and GC through which HIV can maintain substantial levels of protein expression and virion production.