Is the central nervous system a reservoir of HIV-1?
Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS, 2014•journals.lww.com
Together, these findings provide evidence that the CNS can potentially act as a viral
reservoir of HIV-1. However, the majority of these studies were performed in historical
cohorts (absence of combination antiretroviral therapy or presence of viral load), which do
not reflect modern day patients (combination antiretroviral therapy-treated and undetectable
viral load). Future studies will need to examine patient samples with these characteristics to
conclusively determine whether the CNS represents a relevant and important viral reservoir.
reservoir of HIV-1. However, the majority of these studies were performed in historical
cohorts (absence of combination antiretroviral therapy or presence of viral load), which do
not reflect modern day patients (combination antiretroviral therapy-treated and undetectable
viral load). Future studies will need to examine patient samples with these characteristics to
conclusively determine whether the CNS represents a relevant and important viral reservoir.
Summary
Together, these findings provide evidence that the CNS can potentially act as a viral reservoir of HIV-1. However, the majority of these studies were performed in historical cohorts (absence of combination antiretroviral therapy or presence of viral load), which do not reflect modern day patients (combination antiretroviral therapy-treated and undetectable viral load). Future studies will need to examine patient samples with these characteristics to conclusively determine whether the CNS represents a relevant and important viral reservoir.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins