中文摘要：

vpr基因是HIV的辅助基因之一，编码一个96氨基酸的Vpr辅助蛋白。在病毒侵犯宿主细胞的过程中，Vpr蛋白发挥着重要的作用。它参与病毒整合前复合体的核转运，激活病毒的转录过程，诱导感染细胞周期的G2／M期停滞，促进感染细胞凋亡。这些生物活性提示Vpr能与感染细胞内的生化路径相互作用，调节HIV-1的复制和发病。Vpr有多种作用，其中促细胞凋亡活性受vpr基因变异位点的影响，如单个的L64P的变异就能显著增强其活性。Vpr部分或完全缺陷与感染者病程进展缓慢有关。Vpr主要通过线粒体及caspase途径诱导细胞凋亡，但目前Vpr在疾病的发病及进展过程的作用尚未完全弄清。本文主要讨论vpr基因在病毒感染过程中的作用，尤其是诱导细胞凋亡的作用以及对将来通过抑制vpr来抗病毒治疗的展望。

英文摘要：

The vpr gene is an accessory genes of HIV, it encodes a 96-amino acid 14 kDa protein （viral protein for regulatory, or Vpr）. Among the viral offensive strategies, Vpr plays a particularly active role. Vpr involved in nuclear transport of the viral pre-integration complex, activation of viral transcription, induction of cell cycle G2/M arrest and apoptosis of the host cells. These biological activities strongly suggest that Vpr interacts with intracellular biochemical pathways to regulate HIV-1 replication and pathogenesis. In the various kinds of Vpr activities, the pro-apoptotic activity can be affected by the mutation sites of vpr gene, such as it may be dramatically enhanced by a single L64P mutation. Defective for some or all of these Vpr activities have been associated with slow disease progression in some patients. Mitochondria- and caapase-dependent mechanisms appear to mediate Vpr-induced apoptosis. However, specific roles of these Vpr activities in viral pathogenesis and their contribution to disease progression are not fully understood. The effects of vpr gene expression in the process of viral infection, especially the induction of apoptosis are mainly discussed in this review. Strategies with potential application for future anfiviml therapies directed at suppressing vpr are described.