HIV Protein Tat Disrupts Lung Function, Increasing COPD and Emphysema Risk
Researchers at Florida International University have discovered a mechanism by which the HIV protein Tat disrupts the lung's molecular clock, leading to increased risk of emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in people living with HIV. The study, published in Communications Biology, reveals that Tat interferes with the lung's timekeeping system, which is crucial for regulating daily lung function and immune response. This disruption causes chronic inflammation and damage to airway tissue. The research team, led by Hoshang Unwalla, conducted experiments using lung samples from HIV patients, lab-grown lung cells, and a mouse model engineered to produce Tat in the lungs. They found that Tat increases levels of a regulatory molecule that shuts down the production of SIRT1, a protein essential for maintaining the lung's clock, resulting in more inflammatory molecules. 
