人类免疫缺陷病毒初始传播病毒的鉴别及其表型特征

人类免疫缺陷病毒(Human immunodeficiency virus type 1, HIV-1)简称艾滋病病毒,在粘膜传播过程中,病毒的遗传多样性是显著减少的。绝大多数的HIV-1粘膜感染由一个或者少数几个病毒建立并最终发展为系统感染,上述病毒称为初始传播病毒(Transmitted/founder virus, T/F virus)。通过对初始传播病毒表型特征的研究,可进一步了解病毒在新宿主体内成功复制的关键特性,为艾滋病疫苗的发展、暴露前预防及其他治疗性干预措施提供更好的策略。文章综述了初始传播病毒的发现、进化特征以及感染后初期宿主的免疫反应等,以期为深入研究初始传播病毒的特征提供理论基础。     

RelB对HIV-1 Vpr转录激活及诱导细胞G2/M期停滞功能影响的初步研究

Vpr是人类免疫缺陷病毒(Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1,HIV-1)的辅助蛋白之一,在病毒复制及AIDS进程中起重要作用。为了研究Vpr完成其生物学功能的分子机制,本研究利用酵母双杂交技术,从人的cDNA文库中筛选,并经免疫共沉淀技术证实NF-κB通路中的重要蛋白RelB与Vpr存在相互作用;发现RelB蛋白能促进Vpr介导的对NF-κB报告基因的激活,也能促进Vpr对HIV-1LTR的反式激活作用。利用流式细胞技术发现RelB促进Vpr诱导细胞周期G2/M期停滞。上述结果表明,RelB辅助Vpr完成其转录激活以及调控细胞周期的功能。     

人类免疫缺陷病毒与细胞凋亡

人类免疫缺陷病毒1型(HIV-1)感染可使被感染者体内CD4细胞数量减少,最终导致艾滋病。关于HIV-1如何杀死免疫细胞的精确机制仍是1个争论的问题。现已知道,细胞凋亡为HIV-1诱导细胞死亡的一个重要机制。HIV可直接诱导细胞凋亡,也可以通过活化作用,同源被感染的细胞的介导,以及CD^8 T细胞诱导细胞凋亡。且细胞因子在HIV诱导细胞凋亡的过程中发挥着重要的作用。本综述主要从以上几个方面总结HIV-1诱导细胞凋亡的机制。     

HIV-1逃逸HLA限制性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞应答的研究进展

特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(Cytotoxic T lymphocyte,CTL)在控制人类免疫缺陷病毒(Human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)感染和病毒复制过程中起关键作用。HIV-1通过在CTL表位内部或侧翼发生突变逃逸HLA限制性CTL造成的免疫压力,但是部分逃逸突变是以损失病毒适应性为代价。病毒逃逸会导致相应CTL反应水平减弱,免疫系统会产生针对突变病毒株的CTL反应。HIV-1逃逸突变与宿主的CTL反应在宿主体内相互博弈。本文重点综述CTL免疫压力下HIV-1病毒发生逃逸突变的研究进展。     

病毒蛋白R在HIV-1生命周期中的作用

病毒蛋白R(viral protein regulatory,Vpr)是HIV-1的辅助蛋白,它可以调节逆转录的保真性,促进整合前复合物的核运输,影响细胞周期进程,诱导细胞凋亡,并对宿主及病毒的基因表达具有调节作用。它的多重作用使人们对HIV-1生命周期及与细胞的关系有了更新的认识,启发人们发现基于Vpr蛋白的新型抗HIV-1疗法。该文介绍Vpr蛋白在HIV-1生命周期中的各种作用。     

人类免疫缺陷病毒1型慢性感染者B细胞表型分析及抗反转录病毒治疗的修复作用

人类免疫缺陷病毒1型（HIV-1）感染会造成严重的免疫功能损伤,除引起CD4＋ T细胞不断耗损和功能损伤外,体液免疫应答也受到损伤。本研究通过检测HIV-1慢性感染者和慢性感染治疗者外周血B细胞数目和亚群比例,以及活化、凋亡和共刺激分子的表达,探讨 HIV-1感染者中B细胞损伤及抗反转录病毒治疗（ART）对B细胞损伤的修复作用。结果显示,HIV-1慢性感染者外周血B细胞数目显著低于健康对照组,其中未成熟B细胞、初始B细胞、静息记忆B细胞和浆母细胞显著降低,而组织样记忆B细胞显著增加, ART可恢复初始B细胞和组织样记忆B细胞比例,但不能恢复静息记忆B细胞比例。与健康对照组相比, HIV-1感染者未成熟B细胞、初始B细胞、静息记忆B细胞和组织样记忆B细胞中CD38的表达上调;CD95的表达在所有B细胞亚群中均上调;而Bcl-2在初始B细胞、组织样记忆B细胞和浆母细胞中的表达显著降低;静息记忆B细胞和浆母细胞中PD-1的表达上调;共刺激分子CD40在所有B细胞亚群中的表达降低,而CD70的表达在未成熟B细胞以外的亚群中均显著下调。ART仅能部分修复以上分子的表达。结果表明, HIV-1感染引起B细胞及其亚群比例异常,B细胞表现为过度活化、易凋亡及与T细胞作用受损,ART不能完全修复B细胞损伤,有效的免疫干预策略亟待开发。     

HIV-1附属蛋白特异性细胞毒性T细胞应答研究

人类免疫缺陷病毒(Humanimmunodeficiencyvirus,HIV)附属蛋白Nef、Vpu、Vpr和Vif在病毒复制中起着关键作用,并能被细胞毒性T细胞(CytotoxicTLymphocyte,CTL)识别。然而,对我国HIV感染者体内附属蛋白特异性的CTL应答研究比较少。本研究应用覆盖HIV-1B、C亚型附属蛋白(Nef、Vpu、Vpr和Vif)的142个肽段作为抗原,通过酶联免疫斑点实验(Enzyme-LinkedImmunospot,ELISPOT)检测61例中国HIV/AIDS患者和10例HIV-1血清阴性对照的HIV-1附属蛋白特异性CTL应答。无论对HIV-1B亚型还是HIV-1C亚型附属蛋白都能产生特异性CTL应答,特别是Nef区蛋白的反应频率和累积应答强度都较高(P<0.001),B、C亚型间的应答频率和累积应答强度都无显著差别(P>0.05),其免疫优势区也大致相同。附属蛋白特异性的累积CTL应答强度将近达到总应答的21%。这些结果表明尽管HIV-1附属蛋白的体积小,但它们在诱导特异性的CTL应答中发挥了重要作用,对评价HIV-1免疫应答的幅度和特异性以及研发针对中国人群的HIV疫苗有重要的意义。     

甲型肝炎病毒H2快速复制株在人二倍体细胞中的增殖研究

研究甲型肝炎病毒H₂快速复制株在人二倍体细胞中的生长特性,并缩短甲肝病毒的培养周期。将甲型肝炎病毒H₂株感染人二倍体细胞（KMB17细胞株）,采用高病毒感染复数（MOI）将病毒培养时间从26d缩短至10d后收获病毒,并通过连续传代进行适应研究,建立H₂株快速复制毒种库,在不同培养时间检测病毒抗原、感染性滴度,绘制病毒生长曲线,进行传代稳定性验证和病毒形态学的观察。甲肝H₂株快速复制病毒株在KMB17细胞上培养10d后收获,连续传代从第5代至第9代,抗原含量均在512～2 048之间,感染性滴度均在8.33 lgCCID₅₀/mL±0.125lgCCID₅₀/mL,H₂株快速繁殖至5代病毒和9代病毒在电镜下观察到多为成熟的实心颗粒。在5批次的重复试验中,病毒培养至10d、16d、22d时,收获的病毒感染性滴度无显著差异（P>0.005）。筛选后的甲型肝炎病毒H₂株的快速复制株缩短了甲肝病毒的培养时间,且保持较...     

新城疫病毒FMW株体外溶瘤作用及其机制分析

[目的]筛选出能高效抑制多种人肿瘤细胞生长增殖的新城疫(New Castle disease virus,NDV)毒株,为进一步构建重组高效靶向溶瘤毒株奠定基础.[方法]以体外噻唑蓝法测定NDV对A549、SMMC7721等肿瘤细胞及人胚干细胞L-02、人胚肾细胞HEK293等的生长抑制率,空斑试验确定病毒滴度及感染复数.利用形态学观察、Hoechst荧光染色、流式细胞术及免疫印迹等分析了NDV-FMW诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的细胞生物学变化及其机制.[结果]从近50株NDV中筛选出NDV-FMW,以20 MOI病毒作用A549、SMMC7721等肿瘤细胞48 h,细胞生长抑制率达60%,NDV-FMW诱导肿瘤细胞发生凋亡,效应呈时间和剂量的依赖性,凋亡细胞出现核染色质断裂、浓缩及二倍体亚峰,细胞周期阻滞于GO/G1期,此外,病毒感染A549细胞16 h后开始检测到活化的Caspase-3裂解片段及PARP裂解大片段.[结论]NDV-FMW株体外能高效抑制肿瘤细胞的增殖,并经Caspase-3途径诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡.FMW株具有自主知识产权,其良好的体外溶瘤能力为进一步探讨体内抗肿瘤及临床试验的进行奠定了基础,并有可能为恶性肿瘤的治疗提供新的生物制剂.     

HIV-1附属蛋白特异性细胞毒性T细胞应答研究

人类免疫缺陷病毒(Human immunodeficiency virus, HIV)附属蛋白Nef、Vpu、Vpr和Vif 在病毒复制中起着关键作用,并能被细胞毒性T细胞(Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte, CTL)识别.然而,对我国HIV感染者体内附属蛋白特异性的CTL应答研究比较少.本研究应用覆盖HIV-1B、C亚型附属蛋白(Nef、Vpu、Vpr和Vif)的142个肽段作为抗原,通过酶联免疫斑点实验(Enzyme-Linked Immunospot,ELISPOT)检测61例中国HIV/AIDS患者和10例HIV-1血清阴性对照的HIV-1附属蛋白特异性CTL应答.无论对HIV-1B 亚型还是HIV-1C亚型附属蛋白都能产生特异性CTL 应答,特别是Nef区蛋白的反应频率和累积应答强度都较高(P＜0.001),B、C亚型间的应答频率和累积应答强度都无显著差别(P＞0.05),其免疫优势区也大致相同.附属蛋白特异性的累积CTL应答强度将近达到总应答的21%.这些结果表明尽管HIV-1附属蛋白的体积小,但它们在诱导特异性的CTL应答中发挥了重要作用,对评价HIV-1免疫应答的幅度和特异性以及研发针对中国人群的HIV疫苗有重要的意义.     

Dendritic cells infected with vpr-positive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 induce CD8+ T-cell apoptosis via upregulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral protein R (Vpr) plays a crucial role in viral replication and pathogenesis by inducing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, translocation of preintegration complex, potentiation of glucocorticoid action, impairment of dendritic cell (DC) maturation, and T-cell activation. Recent studies involving the direct effects of Vpr on DCs and T cells indicated that HIV-1 containing Vpr selectively impairs phenotypic maturation, cytokine network, and antigen presentation in DCs and dysregulates costimulatory molecules and cytokine production in T cells. Here, we have further investigated the indirect effect of HIV-1 Vpr(+) virus-infected DCs on the bystander CD8(+) T-cell population. Our results indicate that HIV-1 Vpr(+) virus-infected DCs dysregulate CD8(+) T-cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. Vpr-containing virus-infected DC-mediated CD8(+) T-cell killing occurred in part through enhanced tumor necrosis factor alpha production by infected DCs and subsequent induction of death receptor signaling and activation of the caspase 8-dependent pathway in CD8(+) T cells. Collectively, these results provide evidence that Vpr could be one of the important contributors to the host immune escape by HIV-1 through its ability to dysregulate both directly and indirectly the DC biology and T-cell functions.     

The HIV-1 Vif protein mediates degradation of Vpr and reduces Vpr-induced cell cycle arrest

Prior work has implicated viral protein R (Vpr) in the arrest of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle, associated with increased viral replication and host cell apoptosis. We and others have recently shown that virion infectivity factor (Vif ) also plays a role in the G2 arrest of HIV-1-infected cells. Here, we demonstrate that, paradoxically, at early time points postinfection, Vif expression blocks Vpr-mediated G2 arrest, while deletion of Vif from the HIV-1 genome leads to a marked increase in G2 arrest of infected CD4 T-cells. Consistent with this increased G2 arrest, T-cells infected with Vif-deleted HIV-1 express higher levels of Vpr protein than cells infected with wild-type virus. Further, expression of exogenous Vif inhibits the expression of Vpr, associated with a decrease in G2 arrest of both infected and transfected cells. Treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 increases Vpr protein expression and G2 arrest in wild-type, but not Vif-deleted, NL4-3-infected cells, and in cells cotransfected with Vif and Vpr. In addition, Vpr coimmunoprecipitates with Vif in cotransfected cells in the presence of MG132. This suggests that inhibition of Vpr by Vif is mediated at least in part by proteasomal degradation, similar to Vif-induced degradation of APOBEC3G. Together, these data show that Vif mediates the degradation of Vpr and modulates Vpr-induced G2 arrest in HIV-1-infected T-cells.     

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpr-dependent cell cycle arrest through a mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpr protein has important functions in advancing HIV pathogenesis via several effects on the host cell. Vpr mediates nuclear import of the preintegration complex, induces host cell apoptosis, and inhibits cell cycle progression at G(2), which increases HIV gene expression. Some of Vpr's activities have been well described, but some functions, such as cell cycle arrest, are not yet completely characterized, although components of the ATR DNA damage repair pathway and the Cdc25C and Cdc2 cell cycle control mechanisms clearly play important roles. We investigated the mechanisms underlying Vpr-mediated cell cycle arrest by examining global cellular gene expression profiles in cell lines that inducibly express wild-type and mutant Vpr proteins. We found that Vpr expression is associated with the down-regulation of genes in the MEK2-ERK pathway and with decreased phosphorylation of the MEK2 effector protein ERK. Exogenous provision of excess MEK2 reverses the cell cycle arrest associated with Vpr, confirming the involvement of the MEK2-ERK pathway in Vpr-mediated cell cycle arrest. Vpr therefore appears to arrest the cell cycle at G(2)/M through two different mechanisms, the ATR mechanism and a newly described MEK2 mechanism. This redundancy suggests that Vpr-mediated cell cycle arrest is important for HIV replication and pathogenesis. Our findings additionally reinforce the idea that HIV can optimize the host cell environment for viral replication.     

Induction of M-phase arrest and apoptosis after HIV-1 Vpr expression through uncoupling of nuclear and centrosomal cycle in HeLa cells

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accessory protein Vpr induces cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle followed by apoptosis. The mechanism of the arrest is unknown but the arrest is believed to facilitate viral replication. In the present study, we have established cell lines that allow conditional expression of Vpr, and have examined the mechanism of cell death following Vpr expression. We found that cells expressing Vpr enter M phase after long G2 arrest but formed aberrant multipolar spindles that were incapable of completing karyokinesis or cytokinesis. This abnormality provided the basis for apoptosis, which always followed in these cells. The multipolar spindles formed in response to abnormal centrosomal duplication that occurred during the G2 arrest but did not occur in cells arrested in G2 by irradiation. Thus, the expression of Vpr appears to be responsible for abnormal centrosome duplication, which in turn contributes in part to the rapid cell death following HIV-1 infection.     

Heat shock protein 70 protects cells from cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 viral protein R

Viral protein R (Vpr) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is an accessory protein that plays an important role in viral pathogenesis. This pathogenic activity of Vpr is related in part to its capacity to induce cell cycle G2 arrest and apoptosis of target T cells. A screening for multicopy suppressors of these Vpr activities in fission yeast identified heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) as a suppressor of Vpr-induced cell cycle arrest. Hsp70 is a member of a family of molecular chaperones involved in innate immunity and protection from environmental stress. In this report, we demonstrate that HIV-1 infection induces Hsp70 in target cells. Overexpression of Hsp70 reduced the Vpr-dependent G2 arrest and apoptosis and also reduced replication of the Vpr-positive, but not Vpr-deficient, HIV-1. Suppression of Hsp70 expression by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in increased apoptosis of cells infected with a Vpr-positive, but not Vpr-defective, HIV-1. Replication of the Vpr-positive HIV-1 was also increased when Hsp70 expression was diminished. Vpr and Hsp70 coimmunoprecipitated from HIV-infected cells. Together, these results identify Hsp70 as a novel anti-HIV innate immunity factor that targets HIV-1 Vpr.     

HIV-1 Vpr potently induces programmed cell death in the CNS in vivo

The human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) accessory protein Vpr has been associated with the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis) and cell-cycle arrest. Studies have shown the apoptotic effect of Vpr on primary and established cell lines and on diverse tissues including the central nervous system (CNS) in vitro. However, the relevance of the effect of Vpr observed in vitro to HIV-1 neuropathogenesis in vivo, remains unknown. Due to the narrow host range of HIV-1 infection, no animal model is currently available. This has prompted us to consider a small animal model to evaluate the effects of Vpr on CNS in vivo through surrogate viruses expressing HIV-1Vpr. A single round of replication competent viral vectors, expressing Vpr, were used to investigate the apoptosis-inducing capabilities of HIV-1Vpr in vivo. Viral particles pseudotyped with VSV-G or N2c envelopes were generated from spleen necrosis virus (SNV) and HIV-1-based vectors to transduce CNS cells. The in vitro studies have demonstrated that Vpr generated by SNV vectors had less apoptotic effects on CNS cells compared with Vpr expressed by HIV-1 vectors. The in vivo study has suggested that viral particles, expressing Vpr generated by HIV-1-based vectors, when delivered through the ventricle, caused loss of neurons and dendritic processes in the cortical region. The apoptotic effect was extended beyond the cortical region and affected the hippocampus neurons, the lining of the choroids plexus, and the cerebellum. However, the effect of Vpr, when delivered through the cortex, showed neuronal damage only around the site of injection. Interestingly, the number of apoptotic neurons were significantly higher with HIV-1 vectors expressing Vpr than by the SNV vectors. This may be due to the differences in the proteins expressed by these viral vectors. These results suggest that Vpr induces apoptosis in CNS cells in vitro and in vivo. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the apoptosis-inducing capabilities of HIV-1Vpr in vivo in neonatal mice. We propose that this, in expensive animal model, may be of value to design-targeted neuroprotective therapeutics.     

Human cytomegalovirus immediate early proteins and cell growth control

It is widely accepted that small DNA tumor viruses, such as adenovirus, simian virus 40 and papillomavirus, push infected cells into S-phase to facilitate the replication of their genome. Until recently, it was believed that the large DNA viruses (i.e. herpesviruses) functioned very differently in this regard by inducing a G₁ arrest in infected cells as part of their replication process. However, studies over the last 6–8 years have uncovered striking parallels (and differences) between the functions of the major immediate early (IE) proteins of at least one herpesvirus, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and IE equivalents encoded by small DNA tumor viruses, such as adenovirus. Similarities between the HCMV major IE proteins and adenovirus IE proteins include targeting of members of the RB and p53 families and an ability of these viral factors to induce S-phase in quiescent cells. However, unlike the small DNA tumor virus proteins, individual HCMV IE proteins target different RB family members. HCMV also encodes several other IE gene products as well as virion tegument proteins that act early during infection to prevent an infected cell from replicating its host genome and from undergoing apoptosis. Here, we review the specifics of several HCMV IE proteins, two virion components, and their functions in relation to cell growth control.     

Viral infections and cell cycle G2／M regulation

Progression of cells from G2 phase of the cell cycle to mitosis is a tightly regulated cellular process that requires activation of the Cdc2 kinase, which determines onset of mitosis in all eukaryotic cells. In both human and fission yeast(Schizosaccharomyces pombe) cells, the activity of Cdc2 is regulated in part by the phosphorylation status of tyrosine 15 (Tyrl5) on Cdc2, which is phosphorylated by Weel kinase during late G2 and is rapidly dephosphorylated by the Cdc25 tyrosine phosphatase to trigger entry into mitosis. These Cdc2 regulators are the downstream targets of two wellcharacterized G2/M checkpoint pathways which prevent cells from entering mitosis when cellular DNA is damaged or when DNA replication is inhibited. Increasing evidence suggests that Cdc2 is also commonly targeted by viral proteins,which modulate host cell cycle machinery to benefit viral survival or replication. In this review, we describe the effect of viral protein R (Vpr) encoded by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-Ⅰ) on cell cycle G2/M regulation. Based on our current knowledge about this viral effect, we hypothesize that Vpr induces cell cycle G2 arrest through a mechanism that is to some extent different from the classic G2/M checkpoints. One the unique features distinguishing Vpr-induced G2 arrest from the classic checkpoints is the role of phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in Vpr-induced G2 arrest.Interestingly, PP2A is targeted by a number of other viral proteins including SV40 small T antigen, polyomavirus T antigen, HTLV Tax and adenovirus E4orf4. Thus an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Vpr-induced G2 arrest will provide additional insights into the basic biology of cell cycle G2/M regulation and into the biological significance of this effect during host-pathogen interactions.