Commentary: MARCH8 Inhibits HIV-1 Infection by Reducing Virion Incorporation of Envelope Glycoproteins.

Mikako Fujita

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.00254

Abstract

Recently, Kenzo Tokunaga's group reported a novel restriction factor against HIV, MARCH8, which is highly expressed in terminally differentiated myeloid cells such as macrophages. Virus infection in macrophages was first observed in HIV-infected patients in the mid-1980s (Gyorkey et al., 1985; Ho et al., 1986; Koenig et al., 1986). Three decades have passed since then; however, the role of HIV-infected macrophages in AIDS pathogenesis remains controversial. Here, some potential implications of Tokunaga et al.'s study on this controversy will be addressed.

Highlights

Specialty section: This article was submitted to Virology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Microbiology
Kenzo Tokunaga’s group reported a novel restriction factor against HIV, membrane-associated RING-CH8 (MARCH8), which is highly expressed in terminally differentiated myeloid cells such as macrophages
Studies have used an SIV that lacks expression of its accessory protein, Vpx, which is critical for SIV/HIV-2 replication in macrophages and resting T lymphocytes and is important in activated T lymphocytes (Fujita et al, 2010, 2012; Baldauf et al, 2012)

Summary

Introduction

Specialty section: This article was submitted to Virology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Microbiology. MARCH8 inhibits HIV-1 infection by reducing virion incorporation of envelope glycoproteins by Tada, T., Zhang, Y., Koyama, T., Tobiume, M., Tsunetsugu-Yokota, Y., Yamaoka, S., et al (2015). Kenzo Tokunaga’s group reported a novel restriction factor against HIV, MARCH8, which is highly expressed in terminally differentiated myeloid cells such as macrophages.

Results

Conclusion