HIV-1 Accessory Protein Vpr: Relevance in the pathogenesis of HIV and potential for therapeutic intervention

The HIV protein, Vpr, is a multifunctional accessory protein critical for efficient viral infection of target CD4+ T cells and macrophages. Vpr is incorporated into virions and functions to transport the preintegration complex into the nucleus where the process of viral integration into the host genome is completed. This action is particularly important in macrophages, which as a result of their terminal differentiation and non-proliferative status, would be otherwise more refractory to HIV infection. Vpr has several other critical functions including activation of HIV-1 LTR transcription, cell-cycle arrest due to DCAF-1 binding, and both direct and indirect contributions to T-cell dysfunction. The interactions of Vpr with molecular pathways in the context of macrophages, on the other hand, support accumulation of a persistent reservoir of HIV infection in cells of the myeloid lineage. The role of Vpr in the virus life cycle, as well as its effects on immune cells, appears to play an important role in the immune pathogenesis of AIDS and the development of HIV induced end-organ disease. In view of the pivotal functions of Vpr in virus infection, replication, and persistence of infection, this protein represents an attractive target for therapeutic intervention

Neuroprotective Effects of IGF-I against TNFα-Induced Neuronal Damage in HIV-Associated Dementia

AbstractHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection often results in disorders of the central nervous system, including HIV-associated dementia (HAD). It is suspected that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) released by activated and/or infected macrophages/microglia plays a role in the process of neuronal damage seen in AIDS patients. In light of earlier studies showing that the activation of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) exerts a strong neuroprotective effect, we investigated the ability of IGF-I to protect neuronal cells from HIV-infected macrophages. Our results demonstrate that the conditioned medium from HIV-1-infected macrophages, HIV/CM, causes loss of neuronal processes in differentiated PC12 and P19 neurons and that these neurodegenerative effects are associated with the presence of TNFα. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IGF-I rescues differentiated neurons from both HIV/CM and TNFα-induced damage and that IGF-I-mediated neuroprotection is strongly enhanced by overexpression of the wt IGF-IR cDNA and attenuated by the antisense IGF-IR cDNA. Finally, IGF-I-mediated antiapoptotic pathways are continuously functional in differentiated neurons exposed to HIV/CM and are likely supported by TNFα-mediated phosphorylation of IκB. All together these results suggest that the balance between TNFα and IGF-IR signaling pathways may control the extent of neuronal injury in this HIV-related experimental setting

SARS-CoV-2 infection of the pancreas promotes thrombofibrosis and is associated with new-onset diabetes

Evidence suggests an association between severe acute respiratory syndrome-cornavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the occurrence of new-onset diabetes. We examined pancreatic expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), the cell entry factors for SARS-CoV-2, using publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data sets, and pancreatic tissue from control male and female nonhuman primates (NHPs) and humans. We also examined SARS-CoV-2 immunolocalization in pancreatic cells of SARS-CoV-2-infected NHPs and patients who had died from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We report expression of ACE2 in pancreatic islet, ductal, and endothelial cells in NHPs and humans. In pancreata from SARS-CoV-2-infected NHPs and COVID-19 patients, SARS-CoV-2 infected ductal, endothelial, and islet cells. These pancreata also exhibited generalized fibrosis associated with multiple vascular thrombi. Two out of 8 NHPs developed new-onset diabetes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Two out of 5 COVID-19 patients exhibited new-onset diabetes at admission. These results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection of the pancreas may promote acute and especially chronic pancreatic dysfunction that could potentially lead to new-onset diabetes

Activation of Immune System May Cause Pathophysiological Changes in the Myocardium of SARS-CoV-2 Infected Monkey Model

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is an extremely contagious disease whereby the virus damages the host’s respiratory tract via entering through the ACE2 receptor. Cardiovascular disorder is being recognized in the majority of COVID-19 patients; yet, the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and heart failure has not been established. In the present study, SARS-CoV-2 infection was induced in the monkey model. Thereafter, heart tissue samples were collected, and pathological changes were analyzed in the left ventricular tissue by hematoxylin and eosin, trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining specific to T lymphocytes and macrophages. The findings revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces several pathological changes in the heart, which cause cardiomyocyte disarray, mononuclear infiltrates of inflammatory cells, and hypertrophy. Furthermore, collagen-specific staining showed the development of cardiac fibrosis in the interstitial and perivascular regions in the hearts of infected primates. Moreover, the myocardial tissue samples displayed multiple foci of inflammatory cells positive for T lymphocytes and macrophages within the myocardium. These findings suggest the progression of the disease, which can lead to the development of severe complications, including heart failure. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 antigen staining detected the presence of virus particles in the myocardium. Thus, we found that SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory immune response in the heart, which possibly contributes to myocardial remodeling and subsequent fibrosis

C57BL/6J Mice Are Not Suitable for Modeling Severe SARS-CoV-2 Beta and Gamma Variant Infection

SARS-CoV-2 variants, including B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants, have displayed increased transmissibility and, therefore, have been categorized as variants of concern (VOCs). The pervasiveness of VOCs suggests a high probability of future mutations that may lead to increased virulence. Prior reports have shown that VOC infection without expression of human angiotensin converting enzyme-2 receptor (hACE2) in mice is possible. We sought to understand if the increased transmissibility of VOCs can infect C57BL/6 mice without expression of hACE2 receptor required for entry of SARS-CoV-2 normally. We examined the ability of infection with Beta and Gamma variants to infect and cause both pathological and clinical changes consistent with severe COVID-19, including body weight changes, survival, subgenomic viral titer, lung histology on Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining, and viral protein expression as measured by immunohistochemistry staining of viral antigen (IHC). These methods were used to examine three groups of mice: C57BL6, Rag2-/-, and Ccr2-/- mice. We observed that these mice, infected with Beta and Gamma variants of SARS-CoV-2, did not show pathological changes as indicated by weight loss, altered survival, or significant lung pathology on H&E staining. Subgenomic qPCR and IHC staining for viral protein indicated that there was some evidence of infection but far below ACE2 transgenic mice, which showed clinical disease and pathologic changes consistent with ARDS. These data suggest that these variants replicate poorly even in the setting of profound immune deficiency

Enhanced IL-17 Producing and Maintained Cytolytic Effector Functions of Gut Mucosal CD161⁺CD8⁺ T Cells in SIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques

Previous studies have indicated that the loss of CD161-expressing CD4+ Th17 cells is linked to the progression of chronic HIV. These cells are significantly depleted in peripheral blood and gut mucosa of HIV-infected individuals, contributing to inflammation and disruption of the gut barrier. However, the impact of HIV infection on CD161-expressing CD8+ T cells remain unclear. Here, we examined the functions of peripheral blood and mucosal CD161+CD8+ T cells in the macaque model of HIV infection. In contrast to the significant loss of CD161+CD4+ T cells, CD161+CD8+ T cell frequencies were maintained in blood and gut during chronic SIV infection. Furthermore, gut CD161+CD8+ T cells displayed greater IL-17 production and maintained Th1-type and cytolytic functions, contrary to impaired IL-17 and granzyme-B production in CD161+CD4+ T cells of SIV-infected macaques. These results suggest that augmented Th17-type effector functions of CD161+CD8+ T cells during SIV infection is a likely mechanism to compensate for the sustained loss of gut mucosal Th17 cells. Targeting the cytokine and cytolytic effector functions of CD161+CD8+ T cells in the preclinical setting of chronic SIV infection with antiretroviral therapy has implications in the restoration of gut barrier disruption in persons with HIV infection

Fusion of a tumour-associated antigen to HIV-1 Tat improves protein-based immunotherapy of cancer.

BACKGROUND: The ultimate success of cancer vaccination is primarily dependent upon the generation of tumour-specific CTLs. Protein-based vaccination, while safe, poorly elicits such CTL responses. As fusion of an antigen to the HIV-1 Tat transduction domain was reported to increase MHC class I presentation and CTL responses in vitro, we tested the potency of this approach to augment tumour-directed responses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E7 proteins, fused (E7-Tat) or not (E7) to Tat carboxy-terminal region, were produced and studied in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: E7-Tat, not E7, penetrated the cell membrane and was transcriptionally active. In vitro, E7-Tat induced higher IFN-gamma production from E7-specific T-cells than E7. In C57BL/6 mice, E7-Tat mixed with Quil A generated enhanced prophylactic and therapeutic suppression of HPV16-positive C3 tumour outgrowth. Similar, but greatly enhanced E7-specific effector and helper T-cell responses were elicited following E7-Tat/Quil A rather than E7/Quil A vaccination. CONCLUSION: This study offers a new strategy for improving subunit cancer vaccines.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe