Project 3: Estradiol interactions with the proteasome in HIV replication
Estradiol as long been recognized as a potently bioactive molecule, with a multitude of effects in addition to its classical role in reproduction. As AIDS is now the third leading cause of death amongst women in their reproductive years (ages 25-44), understanding the role that female sex hormones plays in the physiology of HIV-1 infection is especially critical and timely. Indeed, there is accumulating evidence that many manifestations of HIV differ between women and men. For instance, it is now well established that women have attenuated or absent disease progression during pregnancy. While epidemiological studies suggest that women may be more vulnerable to certain late-stage AIDS-related illnesses, such as HIV dementia, there is accumulating data that strongly suggest that an estrogen deficient state can be associated with long-term HIV infection. Evaluated as a whole, this clinical evidence indicates that female hormones, such as estradiol; could act to maintain low viral titers, and accordingly suggest that maintenance of serum estradiol levels could decrease the incidence of AIDS-related syndromes. The mechanisms whereby estrogen modulates the mechanics of HIV-1 infection will be the focus of Project 3 and test the hypothesis that estradiol has specific actions on HIV-1 replication in human cells.
Project 3 investigators:
- Annadora Bruce-Keller, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
- Melinda E. Wilson, Ph.D., Department of Physiology
- Jadwiga Turchan, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
- Jeffrey Keller, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
