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HIV infection has been reported to cause bone loss and a higher risk of fracture. Under normal conditions, bone metabolism is regulated by mesenchymal cells, osteoclasts differentiated from mononuclear macro-phages, osteoblasts, and their expression of regulatory factors, such as receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), M-SCF, and transforming growth factor-beta. The balance between bone resorption and osteogenesis depends on the balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts. In addition, some immune cells, such as B-cells, T-cells, and other non-immune cells expressing RANKL, can contribute to osteoporosis under inflammatory conditions. HIV proteins consist of three types: regulatory proteins, accessory proteins, and structural proteins, which contribute to HIV-mediated bone loss partly by upregulating NF-κB expression, tumor necrosis factor alpha content, and release of inflammatory cytokines. Even worse, although antiretrovi-ral therapy has reduced HIV infection mortality and successfully transformed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome into a chronic disease, its impact on bone loss should not be overlooked, especially when the drug contains tenofovir. This review analyzes some reports focusing on the overall osteolytic situation due to imbalances in osteogenesis and bone resorption due to HIV infection and antiviral therapy. The intrinsic mechanism of bone loss provides a reference for researchers to analyze the risk factors for HIV patients complicated with bone loss and helps clinicians to provide ideas for the intervention and prevention of bone loss during clinical treatment and chronic disease management of HIV patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]