Canadian Researchers Uncover HIV’s Hiding Spots in the Body

Researchers at Western University and the University of Calgary have made significant strides in understanding how HIV persists in the body. Their study reveals that the virus embeds itself into the DNA of various cells, utilizing a tissue-specific approach. This discovery sheds light on the challenges of eliminating HIV, even decades after initial infection and treatment.

The research, led by Stephen Barr from Western and Guido van Marle from UCalgary, demonstrates that HIV adopts unique patterns in different tissues, such as the brain, blood, and digestive tract. In the brain, for instance, the virus strategically avoids integrating into active genes, opting instead for less active regions of DNA.

The findings were published in the journal Communications Medicine. Barr, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, emphasized the importance of these patterns: “HIV doesn’t integrate randomly. Instead, it follows unique patterns in different tissues, possibly shaped by the local environment and immune responses.” This behavior may explain why HIV can persist in the body for many years and why certain tissues serve as reservoirs for the virus.

Historic Samples Offer Unique Insights

The research team utilized rare tissue samples from HIV-positive individuals collected during the early years of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, specifically around 1993, when treatment options were limited. This provided the researchers with a unique opportunity to examine the virus in its natural state across multiple organs from the same individuals.

Barr noted, “Our study is a powerful example of how we can learn from historic samples to better understand a virus that continues to affect tens of millions of people worldwide.” The researchers were able to analyze samples from the esophagus, blood, stomach, small intestine, and colon, comparing how often HIV integrated into specific regions of the genome across different tissues.

Van Marle, a professor at UCalgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, stated, “Knowing where the virus hides in our genomes will help us identify ways to target those cells and tissues with targeted therapeutic approaches – either by eliminating these cells or ‘silencing’ the virus.”

Collaboration and Future Implications

This innovative approach is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the National Health Research and Development Program. It builds on years of collaboration among Western, UCalgary, the Southern Alberta HIV Clinic, and the University of Alberta. Barr remarked on the importance of teamwork in these types of studies: “Studies like this are highly collaborative and only possible when many of us work together.”

The research not only contributes to a better understanding of HIV but also honors the individuals who bravely volunteered their samples during a time marked by stigma and fear. Van Marle expressed gratitude for their contributions, which continue to advance scientific knowledge and ultimately save lives.

As researchers continue to explore the complexities of HIV, this study provides a crucial foundation for developing targeted therapies that could potentially eradicate the virus from infected individuals. The insights gained from these historic samples highlight the importance of understanding the virus’s behavior within different tissues, paving the way for future advancements in treatment and prevention.