Genistein and HIV Infection

Genistein is a tyrosin kinase inhibitor that belongs to the category of naturally occurring isoflavones. HIV infection causes CD4 T cell depletion and immunodeficiency. The virus infects CD4 T cells by binding to the chemokine coreceptor CXCR4/CCR5. This interaction also induces chemotactic signaling that triggers aberrant actin activity necessary for viral infection of blood T cells. In the disease course, HIV infection also causes chronic immune activation and oxidative stress that could be reduced by genistein. In this chapter, we review the effects of genistein on T cell chemotactic signaling and HIV infection of cultured blood CD4 T cells. Genistein has been found to inhibit SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor 1)- and HIV-mediated chemotactic signaling and HIV infection of cultured blood T cells and macrophages. These recent studies suggest that genistein could be used in combination with antiretroviral therapy to inhibit HIV infection and reduce HIV-induced oxidative damages.