The Role of Inflammasome Activation in Early HIV Infection

Figure 2

An illustration of the various mechanisms and pathways triggered by activated IFI16 in an HIV infection. (A) The activation of the STINK-TBK1-IRF3/7 pathway by IFI16 after the sensing of retroviral DNA intermediates or ssDNA. (B) The activation of the IFI16 inflammasome and resulting cell death due to the accumulation of incomplete DNA reverse transcripts of HIV during an abortive HIV infection. (C) Restriction of HIV-1 replication by IFI16 independently of immune sensing through the binding and inhibition of the host transcription factor Sp1.