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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Microbiology

HIV-1 Vpr: a multifunctional accessory protein with potential contributions to AIDS pathogenesis and persistence

  • Juan Du1,2
  • Qingchen Li1,2
  • Shao-Hua Wang1,2
  • Yifei Zhao1,2
  • Ke Zhao1,2
  1. 1Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, First Hospital of Jilin University
  2. 2Center of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology, First Hospital of Jilin University
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Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection can progress to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is characterized by a rapid decline in CD4 ⁺ T lymphocyte counts, severe impairment of host immune competence, and recurrent opportunistic infections. Over the past four decades, HIV infection has remained one of the major threats to global public health. Viral protein R (Vpr) is one of nine proteins encoded by HIV RNA genome. Despite consisting of merely 96 amino acids, Vpr exerts multiple functions throughout viral infection and replication and is potentially associated with the progression of AIDS. In this review, we summarize the structural features and biological functions of Vpr, and focus on its multifaceted roles, including the induction of G2/M cell-cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death, facilitation of HIV-1 infection and replication via Env enhancement, modulation of cellular signaling cascades and host gene expression, and participation in AIDS progression. We also include Vpr-mediated regulation of human endogenous retroelement activity and its potential impacts on cellular innate immune responses. This work aims to provide novel analytical perspectives and research directions for in-depth elucidation of Vpr functions and their contributions to AIDS pathogenesis.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{du2026hiv1,
  title = {{HIV-1 Vpr: a multifunctional accessory protein with potential contributions to AIDS pathogenesis and persistence}},
  author = {Juan Du and Qingchen Li and Shao-Hua Wang and Yifei Zhao and Ke Zhao},
  journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2026.1971957},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1971957/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - HIV-1 Vpr: a multifunctional accessory protein with potential contributions to AIDS pathogenesis and persistence
AU  - Juan Du
AU  - Qingchen Li
AU  - Shao-Hua Wang
AU  - Yifei Zhao
AU  - Ke Zhao
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/19
JO  - Frontiers in Microbiology
DO  - 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1971957
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1971957/full
AB  - Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection can progress to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is characterized by a rapid decline in CD4 ⁺ T lymphocyte counts, severe impairment of host immune competence, and recurrent opportunistic infections. Over the past four decades, HIV infection has remained one of the major threats to global public health. Viral protein R (Vpr) is one of nine proteins encoded by HIV RNA genome. Despite consisting of merely 96 amino acids, Vpr exerts multiple functions throughout viral infection and replication and is potentially associated with the progression of AIDS. In this review, we summarize the structural features and biological functions of Vpr, and focus on its multifaceted roles, including the induction of G2/M cell-cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death, facilitation of HIV-1 infection and replication via Env enhancement, modulation of cellular signaling cascades and host gene expression, and participation in AIDS progression. We also include Vpr-mediated regulation of human endogenous retroelement activity and its potential impacts on cellular innate immune responses. This work aims to provide novel analytical perspectives and research directions for in-depth elucidation of Vpr functions and their contributions to AIDS pathogenesis.
SN  - 1664-302X
ER  -