Methaneseleninic acid, a circadian-modulating agent, reactivates latent HIV-1 infection without cellular activation or proliferation

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 transcriptional activity is under circadian control in virally suppressed people with HIV (PWH), and circadian transcription factors can positively affect HIV transcription in vitro. We aimed to determine whether pharmacologic modulation of cell-autonomous circadian cycles can reverse HIV latency. We examined the effects of a known circadian modulator, the organic selenium compound, methaneseleninic acid (MSA), on viral reactivation, and cellular activation and proliferation in near-full-length latently infected cell lines and primary peripheral blood CD4+ T cells from virally suppressed males with HIV. MSA robustly reactivated HIV in latently infected ce..