In a groundbreaking discovery that promises to reshape our understanding of HIV-1 replication and latency, a new study has revealed the pivotal role of PADI4-mediated citrullination of histone H3 in stimulating HIV-1 transcription. Published in Nature Communications, this research unravels the intricate molecular mechanism by which the post-translational modification of histone proteins governs viral gene expression, potentially opening new avenues for therapeutic intervention against HIV/AIDS.
HIV-1, the virus responsible for the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, integrates its genetic material into the host’s genome, residing dormant in infected cells. Reactivation of viral transcription from these latent reservoirs is a key hurdle to eradicating the virus, and understanding the precise molecular switches that govern this process remains a critical area of investigation. The current study by Love, Jütte, Lindqvist, and colleagues sheds light on a previously underappreciated epigenetic modification—citrullination—mediated by the enzyme protein arginine deiminase 4 (PADI4), as a pivotal facilitator of HIV-1 transcriptional activation.
Histones, around which DNA is wrapped to form chromatin, are central to regulating gene accessibility and hence gene expression. Chemical modifications of histones, such as methylation, acetylation, and phosphorylation, are well-established mechanisms controlling chromatin structure and function. However, citrullination—the conversion of arginine residues into citrulline by PADI enzymes—has only recently emerged as a significant post-translational modification influencing chromatin dynamics and transcriptional regulation. The study highlights that PADI4 targets histone H3, modifying it in a manner that promotes a more open chromatin state favorable for HIV-1 gene expression.
Employing a blend of cutting-edge biochemical assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), and advanced microscopy techniques, the researchers demonstrated that PADI4 selectively citrullinates specific arginine residues on histone H3 in HIV-1-infected cells. This modification reduces the positive charge on histone proteins, diminishing their affinity for DNA and thereby loosening chromatin structure. Such chromatin relaxation facilitates the recruitment of transcription factors and the RNA polymerase II machinery necessary for initiating viral mRNA synthesis.
Importantly, the authors showed that pharmacological inhibition or genetic knockdown of PADI4 significantly impairs HIV-1 transcriptional activation, underscoring its essential role in viral gene expression. This finding positions PADI4 not only as a fundamental epigenetic regulator of viral latency reversal but also as a promising drug target. Existing small-molecule inhibitors of PADI4, originally developed for autoimmune diseases, could be repurposed or optimized to suppress viral reactivation, potentially contributing to HIV cure strategies by maintaining the virus in a dormant state.
Moreover, the study contextualizes PADI4’s activity within the broader landscape of epigenetic regulation and viral-host interactions. The researchers propose a model wherein PADI4-mediated citrullination acts synergistically with other histone modifications—such as acetylation at lysine residues—to orchestrate a chromatin environment that balances viral latency and active replication. This intricate balancing act allows HIV-1 to persist in the host while retaining the capacity for rapid reactivation, which is responsible for viral rebound in patients interrupting antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Beyond HIV-1, the research taps into fundamental questions about the role of citrullination in transcriptional regulation more broadly. Histone citrullination has been implicated in various cellular processes, including differentiation, immune responses, and cancer. By elucidating its specific function in the context of a viral pathogen, this study provides a framework for exploring how pathogens exploit host epigenetic machinery to their advantage. It also raises the intriguing possibility that targeting PADI4 might have therapeutic implications beyond infectious diseases, extending to inflammatory and proliferative disorders characterized by dysregulated chromatin states.
The study also advances technical aspects of epigenomic research. The authors utilized state-of-the-art quantitative proteomics paired with single-nucleotide resolution epigenome mapping, enabling them to pinpoint not only the presence but the precise loci of citrullinated histones associated with the integrated HIV-1 provirus. This granular level of detail provides unprecedented insight into how spatial organization within the chromatin landscape influences viral transcriptional dynamics.
Critically, the researchers examined the temporal dynamics of PADI4-mediated citrullination during HIV-1 reactivation induced by latency-reversing agents (LRAs), chemicals designed to "shock" the virus out of dormancy as part of eradication strategies. Their data reveal that citrullination events precede and perhaps prime the chromatin for transcriptional activation, suggesting a causative role rather than a mere correlative association. This temporal sequence offers new targets for combination therapies aiming to maximize viral reactivation efficiency or enforce deep latency.
Furthermore, the paper touches upon how viral proteins might interact with or manipulate PADI4 activity. Although detailed mechanistic interactions between HIV-1 regulatory proteins and host PADI4 remain to be fully elucidated, initial evidence suggests that viral accessory proteins may recruit PADI4 to the proviral chromatin, thereby co-opting host enzymatic functions to favor viral gene expression. This viral hijacking of host epigenetic modifiers represents a sophisticated evolutionary adaptation with significant therapeutic implications.
One of the compelling aspects of this study lies in its translational potential. By demonstrating that manipulation of a single histone-modifying enzyme dramatically alters HIV-1 transcription, it opens a conceptual pathway toward epigenetic therapies that could complement existing antiretroviral regimens. Such therapies might either prevent viral rebound or sensitize latent reservoirs to immune clearance by modulating chromatin states via PADI4 inhibition or enhancement.
The broad scientific community will also find interest in the interplay between inflammation and PADI4 in HIV infection contexts. PADI4 is known to mediate inflammatory processes via neutrophil extracellular trap formation and autoimmunity, linking chronic inflammation to HIV pathogenesis. The possibility that PADI4-driven histone citrullination constitutes a nexus between viral transcription and host inflammatory responses underscores the multifaceted role of this enzyme and highlights new research directions exploring HIV-associated comorbidities.
At a fundamental level, this study reframes how we perceive chromatin modifications in viral persistence and activation. While acetylation and methylation have long dominated the epigenetic discussion, citrullination emerges here as a critical addition, enriching the vocabulary of molecular modifications that control viral chromatin states. It challenges researchers to reconsider the hierarchy and cooperation of histone marks in the context of virus-host interplay.
The findings also have broader implications for viral latency beyond HIV-1. Many persistent viral infections rely on epigenetic silencing or activation to maintain their life cycles in host cells. Understanding that citrullination influences viral chromatin structure and transcriptional competence provides a template for investigating similar mechanisms in other chronic viral infections, potentially illuminating universal principles of latency control.
Subsequent research efforts inspired by this paper may aim at dissecting the precise cross-talk between citrullination and other histone modifications at the molecular level, the role of chromatin remodelers recruited following citrullination, and the interplay with non-coding RNAs that often shape chromatin architecture. Examining the variability of PADI4’s role across diverse cell types and tissues—such as T cells, macrophages, and microglia—where HIV reservoirs persist, will also be critical in translating these findings into clinical interventions.
In conclusion, the work by Love et al. elegantly combines epigenetics, virology, and molecular biology to uncover a novel mechanism regulating HIV-1 transcription through PADI4-mediated histone H3 citrullination. By revealing this previously unappreciated layer of control over viral gene expression, the study paves the way for innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at circumventing viral latency, an enduring obstacle in curing HIV/AIDS. As the scientific community continues to unravel the complexities of virus-host interactions, such insights offer hope that a functional or sterilizing cure for HIV may one day be within reach.
Subject of Research: HIV-1 transcriptional regulation via epigenetic histone modification
Article Title: PADI4-mediated citrullination of histone H3 stimulates HIV-1 transcription
Article References:
Love, L., Jütte, B.B., Lindqvist, B. et al. PADI4-mediated citrullination of histone H3 stimulates HIV-1 transcription. Nat Commun 16, 5393 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61029-0
Image Credits: AI Generated
