Activation of latent reservoirs of HIV-infected cells is a treatment strategy designed to reduce viral load and eliminate the perpetuation of retroviral infection. Prostratin is a non-tumor promoting phorbol ester that potently induces HIV-1 reactivation in latent reservoirs of infected Jurkat-LAT-GFP cells with an IC50 value of ~0.5 μM. Originally, prostratin was isolated from plant sources including P. prostrata, E. cornigera, and H. nutans. The effects of prostratin are mediated through activation of NF-κB via protein kinase C and by downregulation of HIV-1 receptor CD4 expression and its co-receptors CXCR4 and CCR5.
