Method for inhibiting HIV replication in mammal and human cells

• Main Authors: PANEQUE GUERRERO, TAIMI EMELIA, NAVEA LEYVA, LEONOR MARGARITA, CASTELLANOS SERRA, LILA ROSA, DUBED ECHEVARRIA, MARTA, DUARTE CANO, CARLOS ANTONIO, FALCON CAMA, VIVIANA, FERNANDEZ ORTEGA, CELIA BERTA, RAMIREZ SUAREZ, ANNA CARIDYS, CASILLAS CASANOVA, DIONNE, UBIETA GOMEZ, RAIMUNDO, REYES ACOSTA, OSVALDO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.2012
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; CULTURE MEDIA; ENZYMOLOGY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PEPTIDES; PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS ORMEDICINAL PREPARATIONS; SPIRITS; VINEGAR; WINE

The invention relates to a method for inhibiting the replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by negatively modulating or altering the cytoskeleton, specifically the proteins that form part of the cytoskeletal intermediate filaments, and more specifically the proteins vimentin and/or keratin-10. Intervening in the structure of said proteins inhibits replication of the virus in human cells. The invention likewise relates to the use of agents, which include peptides and/or interfering RNA and/or lipid compounds, and negatively modulates or alters the cell cytoskeleton, in order to prevent or treat HIV infection. The invention provides the means and methods for altering the structure of the cell cytoskeleton/filament, which disrupts the HIV infection in human cells; the virus can even be completely inhibited. The cytoskeleton is altered by reducing the amount of vimentin and/or keratin-10 (for example, by interfering RNA transcription control) or by using peptides that alter the cytoskeleton.