In collaboration, Dr Patrick Eldin, member of the team ” Virus RNA viruses and metabolism  » led by Dr Laurence Briant at l’IRIM (Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier) and the CRIBL unit, publish an article demonstrating an effect indirect infection of HIV on B lymphocytes, which are not the target cells of the virus.

The aim of the work carried out was to analyze the impact of the VPR protein specific for the HIV-1 virus on the function of B lymphocytes. Secreted by infected cells, VPR is found in the serum of certain HIV + patients and can passively diffuse to through the cell membrane of B lymphocytes.

This article demonstrates in vitro the ability of VPR to induce the degradation of the UNG protein involved during the terminal maturation of B lymphocytes, resulting in an abnormality in the class switching of immunoglobulins, a process essential for an effective humoral immune response.

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