Willingness to participate in HIV vaccine trials among men who have sex with men in Chennai and Mumbai, India: a social ecological approach

Recruitment of low- and middle-income country volunteers from most-at-risk populations in HIV vaccine trials is essential to vaccine development. In India, men who have sex with men (MSM) are at disproportionately high risk for HIV infection and an important population for trial recruitment. Investigations of willingness to participate (WTP) in HIV vaccine trials have focused predominantly on individual-level determinants. We explored multi-level factors associated with WTP among MSM in India.This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and the Canada Research Chairs program. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Sociodemographic characteristics of study participants (n = 82).

<p>Note: CBO = community-based organization.</p

Multi-level factors associated with willingness to participate in HIV vaccine trials manifested across the social ecology of MSM in India (n = 82).

<p>Note: CBO = community-based organization.</p><p>MSM = men who have sex with men.</p><p>VISP = vaccine-induced seropositivity.</p

A social ecological model of willingness to participate in HIV vaccine trials among MSM in Chennai and Mumbai, India (n = 82).

<p>Note: CBO = community-based organization MSM = men who have sex with men.</p

Reciprocal Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Phospho-CREB Regulates Voltage Gated Calcium Channel Expression during <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Infection

<div><p>Our previous work has demonstrated the roles played by L-type Voltage Gated Calcium Channels (VGCC) in regulating <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> (<i>M. tb</i>) survival and pathogenesis. Here we decipher mechanisms and pathways engaged by the pathogen to regulate VGCC expression in macrophages. We show that <i>M. tb</i> and its antigen Rv3416 use phospho-CREB (pCREB), Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), Protein Kinase C (PKC) and Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) to modulate VGCC expression in macrophages. siRNA mediated knockdown of MyD88, IRAK1, IRAK2 or TRAF6 significantly inhibited antigen mediated VGCC expression. Inhibiting Protein Kinase C (PKC) or MEK-ERK1/2 further increased VGCC expression. Interestingly, inhibiting intracellular calcium release upregulated antigen mediated VGCC expression, while inhibiting extracellular calcium influx had no significant effect. siRNA mediated knockdown of transcription factors c-Jun, SOX5 and CREB significantly inhibited Rv3416 mediated VGCC expression. A dynamic reciprocal cross-regulation between ROS and pCREB was observed that in turn governed VGCC expression with ROS playing a limiting role in the process. Further dissection of the mechanisms such as the interplay between ROS and pCREB would improve our understanding of the regulation of VGCC expression during <i>M. tb</i> infection.</p></div

Specific genes in the calcium-calmodulin and cysteine protease pathways differentially regulate Rv3416 mediated VGCC expression.

<p>PMA stimulated THP1 cells were transfected with siRNA against CAMKIIA, Cathepsin H, Prkaa2, SENP8, SNRK or USP25 for 36h, followed by stimulation with 30 µg/ml of Rv3416 for 72h. VGCC levels were monitored using flow cytometry. Bold lines represent cells transfected with control siRNA followed by stimulations with Rv3416, while dotted lines represent cells transfected with specific siRNA to indicated molecules followed by stimulations with Rv3416. Thin lines represent unstimulated cells transfected with control siRNA. One of three independent experiments is shown.</p

Inhibition of PKC or MAK-ERK enhances ROS generation in Rv3416 stimulated cells.

<p>For Panel A, PMA stimulated THP1 cells were incubated with an inhibitor to PKC (subpanel a) or MAPK-ERK (subpanel b) for 1h prior to stimulation with 30 µg/ml of Rv3416 for 2h and ROS levels were monitored by flow cytometry. Thin line represents unstimulated control while bold lines represent Rv3416 stimulated cells. For Panel B and C, PMA stimulated THP1 cells were incubated with inhibitor to PKC (Calphostin C, Panel B) or MAPK-ERK (U0126, Panel C) and stimulated with Rv3416 for indicated times. Nuclear extracts were probed for pCREB levels. Numbers below the blots indicate relative intensities of the bands. Data from one of three experiments is shown.</p

Rv3416 upregulates VGCC in a TLR dependent pathway.

<p>PMA stimulated THP1 cells were transfected with siRNA against MyD88, TRAF6, IRAK1, IRAK2 or IRAKM for 36h, followed by stimulation with 30 µg/ml of Rv3416 for 72h. L-type VGCC levels were monitored using flow cytometry. Bold lines represent cells transfected with control siRNA followed by stimulations with Rv3416, while dotted lines represent cells transfected with specific siRNA to indicated molecules followed by stimulations with Rv3416. Thin lines represent unstimulated cells transfected with control siRNA. One of three independent experiments is shown. Bar chart shows the Fold increase in Mean Fluorescence Intensity (ΔMFI) in different groups over and above unstimulated control (represented as MOCK). Bars represent mean ± S.D. of three independent experiments.</p

Genes in the calcium/calmodulin and cysteine protease pathways positively regulate ROS levels.

<p>For Panel A, PMA stimulated THP1 cells were transfected with siRNA against indicated genes and ROS levels were monitored by FACS 2h post stimulation with Rv3416. Bold lines represent cells transfected with siRNA against indicated genes while thin lines represent unstimulated cells transfected with control siRNA. Panel B shows pCREB levels in nuclear extracts of PMA stimulated THP1 cells transfected with siRNA against indicated genes followed by stimulation with Rv3416 for indicated times. One of two independent experiments is shown.</p

Rv3416 induces the upregulation of L-type VGCC on macrophages.

<p>THP1 cells were stimulated overnight with 50/ml PMA followed by Rv3416 stimulation for 72h. L-type VGCC expression was monitored by flow cytometry. Bold lines represent stimulations with Rv3416 while thin lines represent unstimulated controls. Panels A-D represent stimulation with 15 µg/ml, 30 µg/ml, 45 µg/ml and 60 µg/ml of Rv3416, respectively. Data from one of four independent experiments are shown.</p