Cocaine potentiates HIV-1 replication in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cocultures. Involvement of transforming growth factor-beta

Cocaine use is an important high risk behavior in the AIDS epidemic. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that cocaine potentiates the replication of HIV-1 in human PBMC. A coculture system was used in which PBMC from healthy donors were incubated in the absence (control) or presence of cocaine before activation with PHA. Cocultures were then constituted with PBMC infected with a clinical isolate of HIV-1. HIV-1 replication, which was assessed by the measurement of HIV-1 p24 antigen levels in coculture supernatants, was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner by cocaine with maximal stimulation at a concentration of 10(-9) M (965 +/- 196 vs 303 +/- 80 pg p24 Ag/ml in control cocultures). Antibodies to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) blocked cocaine-enhanced HIV-1 replication and purified TGF-beta stimulated viral replication in a manner similar to that observed with cocaine. Augmentation of HIV-1 replication by TGF-beta was maximal at a concentration of 0.01 ng/ml; however, viral proliferation appeared to be inhibited by concentrations of TGF-beta of 1 ng/ml or greater. Taken together, these results indicate that cocaine augments the replication of HIV-1 in PHA-activated PBMC via a mechanism that appears to involve TGF-beta.     

Prevention of HIV-1 infection in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by specific RNA interference

The RNA interference (RNAi) phenomenon is a recently observed process in which the introduction of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into a cell causes the specific degradation of a mRNA containing the same sequence. The 21–23 nt guide RNAs, generated by RNase III cleavage from longer dsRNAs, are associated with sequence-specific mRNA degradation. Here, we show that dsRNA specifically suppresses the expression of HIV-1 genes. To study dsRNA-mediated gene interference in HIV-1-infected cells, we have designed six long dsRNAs containing the HIV-1 gag and env genes. HIV-1 replication was totally suppressed in a sequence-specific manner by the dsRNAs in HIV-1-infected cells. Especially, E2 dsRNA containing the major CD4-binding domain sequence of gp120, as the target of the HIV-1 env gene, dramatically inhibited the expression of the HIV-1 p24 antigen in PBMCs for a relatively long time. The dsRNA interference method seems to be a promising new strategy for anti-HIV-1 gene therapeutics.     

HIV-1 Vpr induces apoptosis through caspase 9 in T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1), vpr gene encodes a 14-kDa virion-associated protein, which exhibits significant effects on human cells. One important property of Vpr is its ability to induce apoptosis during infection. Apoptotic induction is likely to play a role in the pathogenesis of AIDS. However, the pathway of apoptosis is not clearly defined. In this report we investigate the mechanism of apoptosis induced by HIV-1 Vpr using a Vpr pseudotype viral infection system or adeno delivery of Vpr in primary human lymphoid cells and T-cells. With either vector, HIV-1 Vpr induced cell cycle arrest at the G(2)/M phase and apoptosis in lymphoid target cells. Furthermore, we observed that with both vectors, caspase 9, but not caspase 8, was activated following infection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell with either Vpr-positive HIV virions or adeno-delivered Vpr. Activation of the caspase 9 pathway resulted in caspase 3 activation and apoptosis in human primary cells. These effects were coincident with the disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and induction of cytochrome c release by Vpr. The Vpr-induced signaling pathway did not induce CD95 or CD95L expression. Bcl-2 overexpressing cells succumb to Vpr-induced apoptosis. These studies illustrate that Vpr induces a mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway that is distinct from apoptosis driven by the Fas-FasL pathway.     

H1N1亚型流感病毒诱导外周血单个核细胞凋亡研究

A型流感病毒能诱导淋巴细胞、单核巨噬细胞的凋亡,为进一步探讨淋巴细胞和单核巨噬细胞在凋亡中可能存在的相互作用,用H1N1亚型流感病毒诱导人外周血淋巴细胞和单核巨噬细胞的凋亡．结果显示,前48 h,H1N1流感病毒能诱导淋巴细胞和单核巨噬细胞的凋亡,但在培养48 h后,流感病毒对单核巨噬细胞表现为凋亡抑制作用,同时流感病毒对淋巴细胞吸附不同时间后,荧光染色和流式细胞术检测凋亡未见明显差异,说明细胞凋亡与病毒吸附时间长短并无相关性．检测p53抑制剂Pifithrin-α(PFT-α)加入前后淋巴细胞和单核巨噬细胞的凋亡情况,结果显示,淋巴细胞和单核巨噬细胞的凋亡均被抑制, 提示通过p53诱导的凋亡可能是流感病毒诱导细胞凋亡的一条重要途径．     

Progesterone-induced inhibition of chemokine receptor expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells correlates with reduced HIV-1 infectability in vitro.

Recent studies have shown that progesterone, a sex steroid hormone, enhances the sexual transmission of various pathogens, including SIV. The goal of this study was to determine whether progesterone affects mechanisms underlying the sexual transmission of HIV-1. We first studied the effects of various physiologic concentrations of progesterone on the expression of chemokines and chemokine receptors by T cells and macrophages. Chemokines are involved in leukocyte recruitment to peripheral sites; in addition, the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 are HIV-1 coreceptors, and their ligands can block HIV-1 infection. Progesterone treatment had no effect on constitutive expression of CCR5 and CXCR4 by nonactivated T cells and macrophages, but significantly inhibited IL-2-induced up-regulation of CCR5 and CXCR4 on activated T cells (p < 0.05). Progesterone also inhibited both mitogen-induced proliferation and chemokine secretion (macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta, RANTES) by CD8+ T lymphocytes. Control and progesterone-treated PBMC cultures were also tested for susceptibility to infection by T cell-tropic (HIV-1MN) and macrophage-tropic (HIV-1JR-CSF) viral strains in vitro. Infection with low titers of HIV-1MN was consistently inhibited in progesterone-treated cultures; progesterone effects on infection with the HIV-1JR-CSF strain were more variable, but correlated with progesterone-induced reductions in CCR5 levels. These results indicate that progesterone treatment can inhibit mechanisms underlying HIV-1 transmission, including infection of CD4+ target cells via CXCR4/CCR5 coreceptors and effects on chemokine-mediated recruitment of lymphocytes and monocytes to mucosal epithelia.     

Inactivated bovine herpesvirus 1 induces apoptotic cell death of mitogen-stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) is able to inhibit the proliferation of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Here, we have demonstrated that live BHV-1 and, interestingly, inactivated BHV-1 can induce apoptosis of mitogen-stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro.     

Sequence analysis of HIV-1 insertion sites in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

An essential component of the HIV-1 life cycle involves insertion in the genome of an infected cell. The site of HIV-1 integration has the potential to disrupt a gene and perturb a normal cellular function. To begin to address whether disease pathogenesis may correlate with the site of insertion, flanking cellular sequences at these HIV integrated regions were directly amplified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells DNA from a broad range of infected individuals using an inverse polymerase chain reaction strategy. Amplified flanking regions were sequenced and examined for similarity to the nucleic acid database. In this group of analyzed samples, the HIV-1 provirus was inserted within non-coding regions throughout the genome of the infected host, in which 7/14 sites were positioned in close proximity to different Alu repetitive elements while 2/14 sites were located within intron sequences. Insertions were also detected at sites without a specific gene designation but not within short tandem repetitive sequences, telomeres or centromeric repeat regions. Altogether, it is expected that this approach will yield new information on sites of integration by HIV-1 that may be associated with the pathogenic manifestations of disease progression.     

Infected cell killing by HIV-1 protease promotes NF-kappaB dependent HIV-1 replication

Acute HIV-1 infection of CD4 T cells often results in apoptotic death of infected cells, yet it is unclear what evolutionary advantage this offers to HIV-1. Given the independent observations that acute T cell HIV-1 infection results in (1) NF-kappaB activation, (2) caspase 8 dependent apoptosis, and that (3) caspase 8 directly activates NF-kappaB, we questioned whether these three events might be interrelated. We first show that HIV-1 infected T cell apoptosis, NF-kappaB activation, and caspase 8 cleavage by HIV-1 protease are coincident. Next we show that HIV-1 protease not only cleaves procaspase 8, producing Casp8p41, but also independently stimulates NF-kappaB activity. Finally, we demonstrate that the HIV protease cleavage of caspase 8 is necessary for optimal NF-kappaB activation and that the HIV-1 protease specific cleavage fragment Casp8p41 is sufficient to stimulate HIV-1 replication through NF-kappaB dependent HIV-LTR activation both in vitro as well as in cells from HIV infected donors. Consequently, the molecular events which promote death of HIV-1 infected T cells function dually to promote HIV-1 replication, thereby favoring the propagation and survival of HIV-1.     

Detection of HBD1 peptide in peripheral blood mononuclear cell subpopulations by intracellular flow cytometry

Production of human beta-defensin1 (HBD1) in response to LPS in monocytes, myeloid dendritic cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) was examined. Since PDC make up only 0.1-0.5% of the peripheral blood mononuclear cell population, we developed a method to determine HBD1 peptide levels using four-color flow cytometry, which can examine several cell surface or intracellular markers at once. Coupled with intracellular flow cytometry, we determined that PDC and monocytes only made significant amounts of HBD1 when exposed to >50ng/ml LPS for 2h. This response was limited to monocytes when ultrapure LPS was used, and was inhibited in PDC by chloroquine treatment.     

Beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin stimulate human peripheral blood mononuclear cell chemotaxis

The neuropeptides beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin are potent analgesics and have a broad spectrum of biologic activities including the recently described alterations of lymphocyte proliferation and antibody production. The current study demonstrates that beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin stimulate human mononuclear cell chemotaxis, as measured by the in vitro leading front assay for migration. The response to both beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin was bimodal, with peak activities occurring at 10(-12) M and 10(-8) M. The distance migrated in response to optimal concentrations of beta-endorphin or met-enkephalin was approximately 80% of that obtained with 10(-8) M formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (f-MLP) and was blocked by prior incubation with 10(-8) M naloxone. Removal of glass adherent cells resulted in a loss of the response to beta-endorphin. Quantitation of the number of cells responding to beta-endorphin showed that only about 50% as many cells responded to beta-endorphin as compared with f-MLP. Human neutrophils showed some migration in response to beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin, although the average optimal migration was less than 30% of that observed with 10(-8) M f-MLP. Studies of the in vivo infusion of beta-endorphin into the cerebral ventricle of the rat resulted in the immigration of macrophage-like cells and are consistent with the in vitro evidence for a chemotactic effect of beta-endorphin.     

Intraepithelial cell neutralization of HIV-1 replication by IgA

HIV is transmitted sexually through mucosal surfaces where IgA Abs are the first line of immune defense. In this study, we used paired IgA and IgG mAbs against HIV gp160 to study intraepithelial cell neutralization and inhibition of HIV replication. African green monkey kidney cells, Vero C1008, polarizable epithelial cells transfected to express the polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR), were transfected with HIV proviral DNA, and intracellular neutralization mediated by the mAbs was assessed. D47A and D19A IgA, which neutralized HIV in a conventional assay, potently inhibited intracellular HIV replication as assessed by infecting HeLa-CD4-long terminal repeat/beta-galactosidase cells (human cervical carcinoma cell line) and CEMx174 cells (human T cell line) with apical supernatant, basolateral medium, and cell lysate from transfected cells. D47A also inhibited the production of virus as assessed by direct assay of p24. In contrast, D47 and D19 IgG, sharing the same V regions, but which were not transcytosed by the pIgR, did not inhibit intracellular HIV replication, nor did D47A and D19A IgA in pIgR- cells, incapable of transcytosing IgA. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy showed prominent colocalization of HIV protein and D47A, in agreement with the intracellular neutralization data. D10A, which did not neutralize HIV in the conventional assay, and irrelevant IgA did not show intracellular neutralization or colocalization. Control studies with two kinds of conditioned medium confirmed that HIV neutralization had indeed occurred inside the cells. Thus, during its transcytosis through epithelial cells, HIV-specific IgA can neutralize HIV replication.     

Apoptosis in bovine herpesvirus-1 infected bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Apoptosis is a process whereby cells die in a controlled manner in response to various stimuli like cytotoxins, viral antigens and normal physiological signals during differentiation and development. Virus induced immunosuppression has been reported for various viral diseases including Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1). In the present study, BHV-1 was found to cause apoptosis in ConA stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Apoptotic index quantified by fluorescent dyes revealed a significant (P < 0.001) increase in percent apoptotic cells at 2, 24 and 48 hr post infection as compared to their respective non-infected controls. Apoptosis specific internucleosomal laddering in DNA from BHV-1 infected PBMCs was seen in agarose gel electrophoresis. No DNA fragmentation was observed in control non-infected PBMCs.     

Biologic-response-modifier-induced indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures

Degradation of tryptophan to kynurenine, catalyzed by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), has been augmented in human epithelial cell lines treated with human interferon-gamma (HuIFN-gamma). Several human biologic response modifiers, including HuIFN-gamma, HuIFN-beta, HuIFN-alpha, interleukin 2 (HuIL-2), and tumor necrosis factor alpha, have now been assessed for their ability to enhance tryptophan degradation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PMC) cultures. PMC were isolated from normal donors, cultivated in RPMI 1640 medium containing [3H]tryptophan, and treated with individual biologic response modifiers. At various intervals, culture supernatants were removed, fractionated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography, and radioactivity in resultant fractions was determined. Significantly increased amounts of tryptophan catabolites were observed after treatment with HuIFN-gamma, HuIFN-beta, HuIFN-alpha, and HuIL-2, but not human tumor necrosis factor alpha. Often, greater than 30% of available tryptophan was degraded by treated PMC cultures. Although antibodies to HuIFN-alpha, HuIFN-beta, and HuIFN-gamma specifically neutralized the induction of IDO activity in PMC by their respective HuIFN, only anti-HuIFN-gamma antibody also neutralized HuIL-2-induced IDO activity. Furthermore, T24 bladder carcinoma cells, in which IDO was induced by HuIFN-gamma but not by the other biologic response modifiers, were induced to degrade tryptophan by supernatants of HuIL-2-stimulated PMC cultures, but not by HuIFN-beta-stimulated PMC culture supernatants. Thus, whereas HuIL-2 indirectly induced IDO in PMC cultures by stimulating production of HuIFN-gamma, all cases of interferons appeared to induce IDO directly in PMC cultures.     

HSV-2 infection of dendritic cells amplifies a highly susceptible HIV-1 cell target

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) increases the risk of HIV-1 infection and, although several reports describe the interaction between these two viruses, the exact mechanism for this increased susceptibility remains unclear. Dendritic cells (DCs) at the site of entry of HSV-2 and HIV-1 contribute to viral spread in the mucosa. Specialized DCs present in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues produce retinoic acid (RA), an important immunomodulator, able to influence HIV-1 replication and a key mediator of integrin α₄β₇ on lymphocytes. α₄β₇ can be engaged by HIV-1 on the cell-surface and CD4⁺ T cells expressing high levels of this integrin (α₄β₇ ^high) are particularly susceptible to HIV-1 infection. Herein we provide in-vivo data in macaques showing an increased percentage of α₄β₇ ^high CD4⁺ T cells in rectal mucosa, iliac lymph nodes and blood within 6 days of rectal exposure to live (n = 11), but not UV-treated (n = 8), HSV-2. We found that CD11c⁺ DCs are a major target of HSV-2 infection in in-vitro exposed PBMCs. We determined that immature monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) express aldehyde dehydrogenase ALDH1A1, an enzyme essential for RA production, which increases upon HSV-2 infection. Moreover, HSV-2-infected moDCs significantly increase α₄β₇ expression on CD4⁺ T lymphocytes and HIV-1 infection in DC-T cell mixtures in a RA-dependent manner. Thus, we propose that HSV-2 modulates its microenviroment, influencing DC function, increasing RA production capability and amplifying a α₄β₇ ^highCD4⁺ T cells. These factors may play a role in increasing the susceptibility to HIV-1.     

HIV-1-infected blood mononuclear cells form an integrin- and agrin-dependent viral synapse to induce efficient HIV-1 transcytosis across epithelial cell monolayer

The heparan sulfate proteoglycan agrin and adhesion molecules are key players in the formation of neuronal and immune synapses that evolved for efficient communication at the sites of cell-cell contact. Transcytosis of infectious virus across epithelial cells upon contact between HIV-1-infected cells and the mucosal pole of the epithelial cells is one mechanism for HIV-1 entry at mucosal sites. In contrast, transcytosis of cell-free HIV-1 is not efficient. A synapse between HIV-1-infected cells and the mucosal epithelial surface that resembles neuronal and immune synapses is visualized by electron microscopy. We have termed this the "viral synapse." Similarities of the viral synapse also extend to the functional level. HIV-1-infected cell-induced transcytosis depends on RGD-dependent integrins and efficient cell-free virus transcytosis is inducible upon RGD-dependent integrin cross-linking. Agrin appears differentially expressed at the apical epithelial surface and acts as an HIV-1 attachment receptor. Envelope glycoprotein subunit gp41 binds specifically to agrin, reinforcing the interaction of gp41 to its epithelial receptor galactosyl ceramide.     

Opioid-mediated suppression of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cell respiratory burst activity

Opiate addiction and stress have been associated with altered immune responses. In this study, we evaluated the influence of morphine and the stress responsive opioid peptide beta-endorphin (beta-END) on O-2 and H2O2 production by cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Exposure of these cells during 48 hr of culture to morphine and beta-END at pharmacologically (10(-8) M) and physiologically (10(-12) M) relevant concentrations, respectively, markedly suppressed peripheral blood mononuclear cell O-2 and H2O2 release in response to the respiratory burst stimuli opsonized zymosan and phorbol myristate acetate. Both opioids also induced a minimal, but statistically significant, increase in resting O-2 and H2O2 generation. The modulatory effects of morphine and beta-END on peripheral blood mononuclear cell oxygen metabolism appeared to involve a classical opioid receptor, because opioid activity was blocked by naloxone and was not observed with N-acetylated-beta-END. Using purified lymphocyte and monocyte preparations, we determined that although opioids directly increase monocyte-resting oxygen metabolism, lymphocytes are the primary target cell in opioid-mediated suppression of monocyte respiratory burst activity. The release of a suppressive product from opioid-triggered lymphocytes was inhibited by cyclosporine. Based on the results of this study, we propose that opioid-mediated suppression of mononuclear phagocyte respiratory burst activity is another factor to be considered in the immunodeficiency of opiate addiction and stress.