HIV-1进攻靶细胞的机制及相应环节抑制剂

HIV－1是导致获得性免疫缺陷综合症（AIDS）的流行最广、破坏力最强的病毒。HIV－1分两个步骤特异性地进攻CD4^ 细胞：一是利用表面糖蛋白gp120和靶细胞膜上的受体结合;二是通过跨膜糖蛋白gp41使病毒的包膜和靶细胞的质膜发生融合,经过上述步骤,病毒的核心蛋白和遗传物质得以进入人体,然其中进行复制,遇时,细胞膜的稳定性被破坏,细胞的内外环境失去平衡,最终导致细胞死亡。HIV－1进攻靶细胞的机制研究所取得的成就为研制安全有效的抗HIV／AIDS药物提供了新的思路和方向。     

可溶性重组CD4(rCD4)对HIV-1感染单核细胞和巨噬细胞的作用

<正>CD_4糖蛋白已被识别系人免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)的细胞受体。HIV与CD_4受体的结合是通过病毒表面糖蛋白gp120所介导的,该步骤不仅引发细胞水平病毒感染,而且也能导致部分HIV的细胞病变特征。尽管HIV-1分离物间具有无数的株间差异,HIV-1和HIV-2的,基因组亦存在着差异,但在感染过程中,外膜糖蛋白与CD4受体的结合却表现出高度保守的机理,这可能是医学界的一个课题。     

病毒性趋化因子vMIP2的表达、纯化及生物活性研究

趋化因子受体如CCR5和CXCR4是HIV侵入细胞的辅助受体,趋化因子与其受体的结合可以抑制HIV感染细胞。近年来在疱疹病毒8(Human herpesvirus8,HHV8)基因组中发现与人趋化因子有较高同源性的开放阅读框,分别命名为vMIP1、vMIP2和vMIP3。研究发现vMIP2与多种人趋化因子受体有高亲和力。本研究在大肠杆菌中表达出融合蛋白TrxA—vMIP2,用亲和层析的方法对其纯化。纯化产物用肠激酶酶切后,经离子交换层析纯化出目的蛋白vMIP2。体外活性研究表明纯化的vMIP2可以有效地抑制R5和X4 HIV—1在人外周血单核细胞上的复制。     

病毒性趋化因子vMIP2的表达、纯化及生物活性研究

趋化因子受体如CCR5和CXCR4是HIV侵入细胞的辅助受体,趋化因子与其受体的结合可以抑制HIV感染细胞.近年来在疱疹病毒8(Human herpesvirus 8, HHV8)基因组中发现与人趋化因子有较高同源性的开放阅读框,分别命名为vMIP1、vMIP2和vMIP3.研究发现vMIP2与多种人趋化因子受体有高亲和力.本研究在大肠杆菌中表达出融合蛋白TrxA- vMIP2,用亲和层析的方法对其纯化.纯化产物用肠激酶酶切后,经离子交换层析纯化出目的蛋白vMIP2.体外活性研究表明纯化的vMIP2 可以有效地抑制R5和X4 HIV-1在人外周血单核细胞上的复制.     

重组HIV表面抗原gp120的表达纯化及免疫学鉴定

为研制具有流行特点的HIV血清学诊断试剂,采用pET系统表达HIV－1表达糖蛋白gp120。研究发现,全长的gp120在E.coli中不能有效表达;N端半长的gp120可以表达,但表达量很低;仅保留N端1／3的gp120（包含gp120V1／V2抗决定簇）有效表达,表达蛋白占菌体总蛋白的18％;Western blot显示较好的反应原性;通过金属螯合层析,产物得到完全纯化。在这些结果的基础上,我们表达了流行株的gp120片段,为探索gp120在大肠杆菌的高效表达,建立针对中国人群的HIV血清学诊断系统奠定基础。     

HIV—1 P24截短体与gp41截短体的融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化和鉴定

用基因重组技术将截短的HIV－1 p24基因和gp41基因连接成嵌合基因,插入质粒pGEX-4T3,构建成重组表达质粒pGEX-F。将pGEX-F转化大肠杆菌BL21。经IPTG诱导表达,pGEX-F在大肠杆菌BL21中获得了高效表达。融合蛋白P24－gp41经Glutathione-Sepharose4B亲和层析纯化后,用间接ELISA和免疫印迹检测HIV抗体阳性血清和正常人血清,P24－gp41只与HIV抗体阳性血清反应,证明获得的融合蛋白P24－gp41有很强的抗原特异性和免疫反应性,具有较高的应用价值。     

趋化因子基因对HIV-1外膜蛋白基因疫苗诱导的免疫应答的影响

研究趋化因子基因对HIV-1外膜蛋白基因疫苗诱导免疫应答的影响,以探求防治HIV的新策略.将pVAX1GP120联合RANTES、MIP-1α基因或者pVAX1GP120单独免疫Balb/c小鼠,采用ELISA检测免疫小鼠的特异性抗体和IFN-γ水平,用MTT比色法检测免疫小鼠脾淋巴细胞的增殖,用乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)试验检测小鼠特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)的应答.与pVAX1GP120免疫组比较,pVAX1GP120联合RANTES、MIP-1d基因免疫组小鼠血清的抗HIV-1gp120抗体滴度升高,有显著性差异(p＜0.01);与pVAX1GP120免疫组比较,pVAX1GP120联合RANTES、MIP-1d基因免疫组小鼠血清的IFN-γ升高,有显著性差异(p＜0.01);pVAX1GP120联合RANTES、MIP-1α基因免疫组小鼠的脾淋巴细胞增殖实验刺激指数(SI)以及特异性CTL活性均高于pVAX1GP120免疫组,有显著性差异(p＜0.01).RANTES、MIP-1α基因联合HIV-1外膜蛋白基因疫苗免疫小鼠,可能增强HIV特异性Th1细胞和CTL反应,RANTES、MIP-1α基因对体液免疫有加强作用.因此,RANTES、MIP- 1α基因对于HIV-1外膜蛋白基因疫苗具有较好应用前景的免疫佐剂.     

趋化因子基因对HIV-1外膜蛋白基因疫苗诱导的免疫应答的影响

研究趋化因子基因对HIV-1外膜蛋白基因疫苗诱导免疫应答的影响,以探求防治HIV的新策略。将 pVAX1GP120联合RANTES、MIP-1α基因或者pVAX1GP120单独免疫Balb／c小鼠,采用ELISA检测免疫小鼠 的特异性抗体和IFN-γ水平,用MTT比色法检测免疫小鼠脾淋巴细胞的增殖,用乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)试验检测小 鼠特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)的应答。与pVAX1GP120免疫组比较,pVAX1GP120联合RANTES、MIP- 1α基因免疫组小鼠血清的抗HIV-1gp120抗体滴度升高,有显著性差异(p<0．01);与pVAX1GP120免疫组比较, pVAX1GP120联合RANTES、MIP-1α基因免疫组小鼠血清的IFN-γ升高,有显著性差异(p<0．01); pVAX1GP120联合RANTES、MIP-1α基因免疫组小鼠的脾淋巴细胞增殖实验刺激指数(SI)以及特异性CTL活性 均高于pVAX1GP120免疫组,有显著性差异(p<0．01)。RANTES、MIP-1α基因联合HIV-1外膜蛋白基因疫苗免 疫小鼠,可能增强HIV特异性Th1细胞和CTL反应,RANTES、MIP-1α基因对体液免疫有加强作用。因此, RANTES、MIP-1α基因对于HIV-1外膜蛋白基因疫苗具有较好应用前景的免疫佐剂。     

gp120似乎促进艾滋病患者的CD4破坏

National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine(Denver,CO)的 Terri Finkel 提出问题:用病毒表面蛋白 gp120制成的 HIV 疫苗实际上在加速病程发展吗?她认为,答案恐怕是肯定的。Finkel 在其最近发表的一份研究报告中指出,由 gp120或抗-gp120抗体交联的 CD_4 T 细胞可通过一种“apoptosis”机制自身破坏。一旦 T 细胞被触发,此过程即发生,因为 apoptosis 与细胞的靶抗原有关。     

Medarex的双抗体优于单一MAb

将两个分离的单克隆抗体(MAb)连接起来制成的 Bispecific~(TM)抗体能起到其中任何一个抗体所起不到的作用。对此,Medarex,Inc.(Princeton,NJ)似乎掌握了足够的证据。特别是这种双特异性抗体能体外保护免疫细胞不受 HIV 侵染,而任何一个 MAb 则做不到。此项双特异性技术包括将两个结合不同抗原的 MAb 连接起来,因此,所产生的单一分子能结合两种抗原。治疗 HIV 侵染的双特异性抗体由结合 AIDS 病毒 gp41表面蛋白的 MAb 和结合巨噬细胞上 Fc 受体的MAb 组成。这种受体一旦被结合,巨噬细即摧毁结合另一种抗体的细胞或病原体。HIV 就是这种情     

The promiscuous CC chemokine receptor D6 is a functional coreceptor for primary isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 on astrocytes

The role of coreceptors other than CCR5 and CXCR4 in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease is controversial. Here we show that a promiscuous CC chemokine receptor, D6, can function as a coreceptor for various primary dual-tropic isolates of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2. Furthermore, D6 usage is common among chimeric HIV-1 constructs bearing the gp120 proteins of isolates from early seroconverting patients. D6 mRNA and immunoreactivity were demonstrated to be expressed in HIV-1 target cells such as macrophages, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and primary astrocytes. In primary astrocytes, an RNA interference-mediated knockdown of D6 expression inhibited D6-tropic isolate infection. D6 usage may account for some previous observations of alternative receptor tropism for primary human cells. Thus, D6 may be an important receptor for HIV pathogenesis in the brain and for the early dissemination of virus in the host.     

Neutralizing antibodies against the V3 loop of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 block the CD4-dependent and -independent binding of virus to cells.

The CD4 molecule is an essential receptor for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) through high-affinity interactions with the viral external envelope glycoprotein gp120. Previously, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to the third hypervariable domain of gp120 (the V3 loop) have been thought to block HIV infection without affecting the binding of HIV particles to CD4-expressing human cells. However, here we demonstrate that this conclusion was not correct and was due to the use of soluble gp120 instead of HIV particles. Indeed, neutralizing anti-V3 loop MAbs inhibited completely the binding and entry of HIV particles into CD4+ human cells. In contrast, the binding of virus was only partially inhibited by neutralizing anti-CD4 MAbs against the gp120 binding site in CD4, which, like the anti-V3 loop MAbs, completely inhibited HIV entry and infection. Nonneutralizing control MAbs against either the V3 loop or the N or C terminus of gp120 had no significant effect on HIV binding and entry. HIV-1 particles were also found to bind human and murine cells expressing or not expressing the human CD4 molecule. Interestingly, the binding of HIV to CD4+ murine cells was inhibited by both anti-V3 and anti-CD4 MAbs, whereas the binding to human and murine CD4- cells was affected only by anti-V3 loop MAbs. The effect of anti-V3 loop neutralizing MAbs on the HIV binding to cells appears not to be the direct consequence of gp120 shedding from HIV particles or of a decreased affinity of CD4 or gp120 for binding to its surface counterpart. Taken together, our results suggest the existence of CD4-dependent and -independent binding events involved in the attachment of HIV particles to cells; in both of these events, the V3 loop plays a critical role. As murine cells lack the specific cofactor CXCR4 for HIV-1 entry, other cell surface molecules besides CD4 might be implicated in stable binding of HIV particles to cells.     

Multiple antiviral activities of cyanovirin-N: blocking of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 interaction with CD4 and coreceptor and inhibition of diverse enveloped viruses

Cyanovirin-N (CV-N) is a cyanobacterial protein with potent neutralizing activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). CV-N has been shown to bind HIV type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 with high affinity; moreover, it blocks the envelope glycoprotein-mediated membrane fusion reaction associated with HIV-1 entry. However, the inhibitory mechanism(s) remains unclear. In this study, we show that CV-N blocked binding of gp120 to cell-associated CD4. Consistent with this, pretreatment of gp120 with CV-N inhibited soluble CD4 (sCD4)-dependent binding of gp120 to cell-associated CCR5. To investigate possible effects of CV-N at post-CD4 binding steps, we used an assay that measures sCD4 activation of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein for fusion with CCR5-expressing cells. CV-N displayed equivalently potent inhibitory effects when added before or after sCD4 activation, suggesting that CV-N also has blocking action at the level of gp120 interaction with coreceptor. This effect was shown not to be due to CV-N-induced coreceptor down-modulation after the CD4 binding step. The multiple activities against the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein prompted us to examine other enveloped viruses. CV-N potently blocked infection by feline immunodeficiency virus, which utilizes the chemokine receptor CXCR4 as an entry receptor but is CD4 independent. CV-N also inhibited fusion and/or infection by human herpesvirus 6 and measles virus but not by vaccinia virus. Thus, CV-N has broad-spectrum antiviral activity, both for multiple steps in the HIV entry mechanism and for diverse enveloped viruses. This broad specificity has implications for potential clinical utility of CV-N.     

In vitro mutagenesis identifies a region within the envelope gene of the human immunodeficiency virus that is critical for infectivity.

Site-specific mutagenesis was used to introduce amino acid substitutions at the asparagine codons of four conserved potential N-linked glycosylation sites within the gp120 envelope protein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). One of these alterations resulted in the production of noninfectious virus particles. The amino acid substitution did not interfere with the synthesis, processing, and stability of the env gene polypeptides gp120 and gp41 or the binding of gp120 to its cellular receptor, the CD4 (T4) molecule. Vaccinia virus recombinants containing wild-type or mutant HIV env genes readily induced syncytia in CD4+ HeLa cells. These results suggest that alterations involving the second conserved domain of the HIV gp120 may interfere with an essential early step in the virus replication cycle other than binding to the CD4 receptor. In long-term cocultures of a T4+ lymphocyte cell line and colon carcinoma cells producing the mutant virus, revertant infectious virions were detected. Molecular characterization of two revertant proviral clones revealed the presence of the original mutation as well as a compensatory amino acid change in another region of HIV gp120.     

HIV gp120 binds to mannose receptor on vaginal epithelial cells and induces production of matrix metalloproteinases

Background

During sexual transmission of HIV in women, the virus breaches the multi-layered CD4 negative stratified squamous epithelial barrier of the vagina, to infect the sub-epithelial CD4 positive immune cells. However the mechanisms by which HIV gains entry into the sub-epithelial zone is hitherto unknown. We have previously reported human mannose receptor (hMR) as a CD4 independent receptor playing a role in HIV transmission on human spermatozoa. The current study was undertaken to investigate the expression of hMR in vaginal epithelial cells, its HIV gp120 binding potential, affinity constants and the induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) downstream of HIV gp120 binding to hMR.

Principal Findings

Human vaginal epithelial cells and the immortalized vaginal epithelial cell line Vk2/E6E7 were used in this study. hMR mRNA and protein were expressed in vaginal epithelial cells and cell line, with a molecular weight of 155 kDa. HIV gp120 bound to vaginal proteins with high affinity, (Kd = 1.2±0.2 nM for vaginal cells, 1.4±0.2 nM for cell line) and the hMR antagonist mannan dose dependently inhibited this binding. Both HIV gp120 binding and hMR exhibited identical patterns of localization in the epithelial cells by immunofluorescence. HIV gp120 bound to immunopurified hMR and affinity constants were 2.9±0.4 nM and 3.2±0.6 nM for vaginal cells and Vk2/E6E7 cell line respectively. HIV gp120 induced an increase in MMP-9 mRNA expression and activity by zymography, which could be inhibited by an anti-hMR antibody.

Conclusion

hMR expressed by vaginal epithelial cells has high affinity for HIV gp120 and this binding induces production of MMPs. We propose that the induction of MMPs in response to HIV gp120 may lead to degradation of tight junction proteins and the extracellular matrix proteins in the vaginal epithelium and basement membrane, leading to weakening of the epithelial barrier; thereby facilitating transport of HIV across the vaginal epithelium.     

gp120-induced alterations of human astrocyte function: Na(+)/H(+) exchange, K(+) conductance, and glutamate flux

Many human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-infected patients suffer from impaired neurological function anddementia. This facet of the disease has been termed acquiredimmunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated dementia complex (ADC).Several cell types, including astrocytes and neurons, are notproductively infected by virus but are involved in ADC pathophysiology.Previous studies of rat astrocytes showed that an HIV coat protein(gp120) accelerated astrocyte Na⁺/H⁺ exchangeand that the resultant intracellular alkalinization activated apH-sensitive K⁺ conductance. The present experiments wereconducted to determine whether gp120 affected human astrocytes in thesame fashion. It was found that primary human astrocytes express apH-sensitive K⁺ conductance that was activated onintracellular alkalinization. Also, gp120 treatment of whole cellclamped human astrocytes activated this conductance specifically.Furthermore, gp120 inhibited glutamate uptake by primary humanastrocytes. These altered physiological processes could contribute topathophysiological changes in HIV-infected brains. Because thegp120-induced cell physiological changes were partially inhibited bydimethylamiloride (an inhibitor of Na⁺/H⁺exchange), our findings suggest that modification of human astrocyte Na⁺/H⁺ exchange activity may provide a means ofaddressing some of the neurological complications of HIV infection.

     

Protein-disulfide isomerase-mediated reduction of two disulfide bonds of HIV envelope glycoprotein 120 occurs post-CXCR4 binding and is required for fusion

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope (Env) glycoprotein (gp) 120 is a highly disulfide-bonded molecule that attaches HIV to the lymphocyte surface receptors CD4 and CXCR4. Conformation changes within gp120 result from binding and trigger HIV/cell fusion. Inhibition of lymphocyte surface-associated protein-disulfide isomerase (PDI) blocks HIV/cell fusion, suggesting that redox changes within Env are required. Using a sensitive assay based on a thiol reagent, we show that (i) the thiol content of gp120, either secreted by mammalian cells or bound to a lymphocyte surface enabling CD4 but not CXCR4 binding, was 0.5-1 pmol SH/pmol gp120 (SH/gp120), whereas that of gp120 after its interaction with a surface enabling both CD4 and CXCR4 binding was raised to 4 SH/gp120; (ii) PDI inhibitors prevented this change; and (iii) gp120 displaying 2 SH/gp120 exhibited CD4 but not CXCR4 binding capacity. In addition, PDI inhibition did not impair gp120 binding to receptors. We conclude that on average two of the nine disulfides of gp120 are reduced during interaction with the lymphocyte surface after CXCR4 binding prior to fusion and that cell surface PDI catalyzes this process. Disulfide bond restructuring within Env may constitute the molecular basis of the post-receptor binding conformational changes that induce fusion competence.     

Effects of anti-gp120 monoclonal antibodies on CD4 receptor binding by the env protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to defined peptide epitopes on gp120 from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 were used to investigate the involvement of their epitopes in gp120 binding to the CD4 receptor. Recombinant vaccinia viruses were constructed that expressed either full-length gp120 (v-ED6), or a truncated gp120 lacking 44 amino acids at the carboxyl terminus (v-ED4). Binding of these glycoproteins to the CD4 receptor was detected directly with metabolically labeled gp120 or indirectly with the gp120 MAbs. Truncated gp120 from v-ED4 bound to CD4-positive cells less than 1/12 as well as gp120 from v-ED6, indicating that the C-terminal region of gp120, which is conserved in numerous isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, is critical for CD4 binding. However, MAb 110-1, which recognizes a peptide contained in the region deleted from v-ED4 (amino acids 489 through 511), did not inhibit binding of gp120 to CD4. MAb 110-1 also reacted with gp120 bound to the CD4 receptor, indicating that the epitope for this antibody does not directly interact with CD4. A second MAb, 110-4, which recognizes a peptide epitope located between amino acids 303 and 323 and has potent viral neutralizing activity, also bound to gp120 on the CD4 receptor. Furthermore, pretreatment of gp120 with MAb 110-4 at concentrations approximately 1,000-fold higher than those required for complete virus neutralization inhibited subsequent CD4 binding by only about 65%. Taken together, these data suggest that neutralization mediated by antibody 110-4 does not result from binding of this MAb to the CD4-binding site of gp120.     

Structural and functional characterization of the human CCR5 receptor in complex with HIV gp120 envelope glycoprotein and CD4 receptor by molecular modeling studies

The entry of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into cells depends on a sequential interaction of the gp120 envelope glycoprotein with the cellular receptors CD4 and members of the chemokine receptor family. The CC chemokine receptor CCR5 is such a receptor for several chemokines and a major coreceptor for the entry of R5 HIV type-1 (HIV-1) into cells. Although many studies focus on the interaction of CCR5 with HIV-1, the corresponding interaction sites in CCR5 and gp120 have not been matched. Here we used an approach combining protein structure modeling, docking and molecular dynamics simulation to build a series of structural models of the CCR5 in complexes with gp120 and CD4. Interactions such as hydrogen bonds, salt bridges and van der Waals contacts between CCR5 and gp120 were investigated. Three snapshots of CCR5-gp120-CD4 models revealed that the initial interactions of CCR5 with gp120 are involved in the negatively charged N-terminus (Nt) region of CCR5 and positively charged bridging sheet region of gp120. Further interactions occurred between extracellular loop2 (ECL2) of CCR5 and the base of V3 loop regions of gp120. These interactions may induce the conformational changes in gp120 and lead to the final entry of HIV into the cell. These results not only strongly support the two-step gp120-CCR5 binding mechanism, but also rationalize extensive biological data about the role of CCR5 in HIV-1 gp120 binding and entry, and may guide efforts to design novel inhibitors.