As one of the early expressed proteins after HIV-1 infection, Tat blocks Interferon (IFN)-γ-induced autophagy in macrophages by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1), resulting in decreased IFN-γ-induced expression of the autophagy gene LC3 and decreased autophagosome levels [106]. Here, STAT1 is linked to HIV-1 infection.