Reduced decline of lung diffusing capacity in COPD patients with diabetes and metformin treatment

We studied whether in patients with COPD the use of metformin for diabetes treatment was linked to a pattern of lung function decline consistent with the hypothesis of anti-aging efects of metformin. Patients of GOLD grades 1–4 of the COSYCONET cohort with follow-up data of up to 4.5 y were included. The annual decline in lung function (FEV1, FVC) and CO difusing capacity (KCO, TLCO) in %predicted at baseline was evaluated for associations with age, sex, BMI, pack-years, smoking status, baseline lung function, exacerbation risk, respiratory symptoms, cardiac disease, as well as metformin-containing therapy compared to patients without diabetes and metformin. Among 2741 patients, 1541 (mean age 64.4 y, 601 female) fulflled the inclusion criteria. In the group with metformin treatment vs. non-diabetes the mean annual decline in KCO and TLCO was signifcantly lower (0.2 vs 2.3, 0.8 vs. 2.8%predicted, respectively; p < 0.05 each), but not the decline of FEV1 and FVC. These results were confrmed using multiple regression and propensity score analyses. Our fndings demonstrate an association between the annual decline of lung difusing capacity and the intake of metformin in patients with COPD consistent with the hypothesis of anti-aging efects of metformin as refected in a surrogate marker of emphysema

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies from the CHARGE consortium identifies common variants associated with carotid intima media thickness and plaque

Carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and plaque determined by ultrasonography are established measures of subclinical atherosclerosis that each predicts future cardiovascular disease events. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association data in 31,211 participants of European ancestry from nine large studies in the setting of the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium. We then sought additional evidence to support our findings among 11,273 individuals using data from seven additional studies. In the combined meta-analysis, we identified three genomic regions associated with common carotid intima media thickness and two different regions associated with the presence of carotid plaque (P < 5 × 10 -8). The associated SNPs mapped in or near genes related to cellular signaling, lipid metabolism and blood pressure homeostasis, and two of the regions were associated with coronary artery disease (P < 0.006) in the Coronary Artery Disease Genome-Wide Replication and Meta-Analysis (CARDIoGRAM) consortium. Our findings may provide new insight into pathways leading to subclinical atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular events

Causal effect of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 on coronary heart disease

Background--Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) plays an essential role in the fibrinolysis system and thrombosis. Population studies have reported that blood PAI-1 levels are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, it is unclear whether the association reflects a causal influence of PAI-1 on CHD risk. Methods and Results--To evaluate the association between PAI-1 and CHD, we applied a 3-step strategy. First, we investigated the observational association between PAI-1 and CHD incidence using a systematic review based on a literature search for PAI-1 and CHD studies. Second, we explored the causal association between PAI-1 and CHD using a Mendelian randomization approach using summary statistics from large genome-wide association studies. Finally, we explored the causal effect of PAI-1 on cardiovascular risk factors including metabolic and subclinical atherosclerosis measures. In the systematic meta-analysis, the highest quantile of blood PAI-1 level was associated with higher CHD risk comparing with the lowest quantile (odds ratio=2.17; 95% CI: 1.53, 3.07) in an age- and sex-adjusted model. The effect size was reduced in studies using a multivariable-adjusted model (odds ratio=1.46; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.88). The Mendelian randomization analyses suggested a causal effect of increased PAI-1 level on CHD risk (odds ratio=1.22 per unit increase of log-transformed PAI-1; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.47). In addition, we also detected a causal effect of PAI-1 on elevating blood glucose and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusions--Our study indicates a causal effect of elevated PAI-1 level on CHD risk, which may be mediated by glucose dysfunction

Inhibition traductionnelle du facteur de restriction APOBEC3G par la protéine Vif du VIH-1 : rôle d'une uORF dans la 5'-UTR de l'ARNm d'A3G et identification de facteurs cellulaires

The HIV-1 Vif protein counteracts the restriction factor APOBEC3G (A3G) by downregulating its expression level in infected cells. This is achieved in different ways, one of which is translational inhibition, a mechanism that is still poorly understood. The first part of my thesis contributes to the characterization of a small upstream ORF (uORF), that is found in the 5'-UTR of A3G and A3F mRNAs. This uORF has been found to be crucial for regulation of A3G translation and is necessary to allow Vif-mediated translational inhibition. In the second part of this thesis, different protocols have been set up in order to identify A3G mRNA-associated cellular proteins which might play a role in the mechanism of Vif-mediated translational inhibition. Several proteins, whose presence on A3G mRNA seems to be modulated by Vif have been identified.La protéine Vif du VIH-1 contrecarre le facteur de restriction APOBEC3G (A3G) en diminuant son niveau d'expression dans les cellules infectées. Ceci est mis en œuvre entre autres par l'inhibition de sa traduction, un mécanisme encore peu compris. La première partie de ma thèse contribue à la caractérisation d'une petite ORF (uORF) qui se situe dans la 5'-UTR de l'ARNm d'A3G et d'A3F en amont de leurs ORF respectives. Cette uORF s'est révélée cruciale pour la régulation de la traduction d'A3G en présence et absence de Vif. Dans la deuxième partie de cette thèse, différents protocoles ont été mis en œuvre pour identifier les protéines associées avec l'ARNm d'A3G, qui pourraient jouer un rôle dans le mécanisme d'inhibition traductionnelle d'A3G par Vif. Ainsi, plusieurs protéines ont été identifiées dont la présence sur l'ARNm d'A3G semble modulée par Vif

Translational inhibition of the restriction factor APOBEC3G (A3G) by the HIV-1 Vif protein : role of a uORF in the 5'-UTR of A3G mRNA and identification of cellular factors

La protéine Vif du VIH-1 contrecarre le facteur de restriction APOBEC3G (A3G) en diminuant son niveau d'expression dans les cellules infectées. Ceci est mis en œuvre entre autres par l'inhibition de sa traduction, un mécanisme encore peu compris. La première partie de ma thèse contribue à la caractérisation d'une petite ORF (uORF) qui se situe dans la 5'-UTR de l'ARNm d'A3G et d'A3F en amont de leurs ORF respectives. Cette uORF s'est révélée cruciale pour la régulation de la traduction d'A3G en présence et absence de Vif. Dans la deuxième partie de cette thèse, différents protocoles ont été mis en œuvre pour identifier les protéines associées avec l'ARNm d'A3G, qui pourraient jouer un rôle dans le mécanisme d'inhibition traductionnelle d'A3G par Vif. Ainsi, plusieurs protéines ont été identifiées dont la présence sur l'ARNm d'A3G semble modulée par Vif.The HIV-1 Vif protein counteracts the restriction factor APOBEC3G (A3G) by downregulating its expression level in infected cells. This is achieved in different ways, one of which is translational inhibition, a mechanism that is still poorly understood. The first part of my thesis contributes to the characterization of a small upstream ORF (uORF), that is found in the 5'-UTR of A3G and A3F mRNAs. This uORF has been found to be crucial for regulation of A3G translation and is necessary to allow Vif-mediated translational inhibition. In the second part of this thesis, different protocols have been set up in order to identify A3G mRNA-associated cellular proteins which might play a role in the mechanism of Vif-mediated translational inhibition. Several proteins, whose presence on A3G mRNA seems to be modulated by Vif have been identified

Hijacking of the Ubiquitin/Proteasome Pathway by the HIV Auxiliary Proteins

International audienc

Beet Necrotic Yellow Vein Virus Noncoding RNA Production Depends on a 5′→3′ Xrn Exoribonuclease Activity

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The C-terminal p6 domain of the HIV-1 Pr55Gag precursor is required for specific binding to the genomic RNA

The Pr55Gag precursor specifically selects the HIV-1 genomic RNA (gRNA) from a large excess of cellular and partially or fully spliced viral RNAs and drives the virus assembly at the plasma membrane. During these processes, the NC domain of Pr55Gag interacts with the gRNA, while its C-terminal p6 domain binds cellular and viral factors and orchestrates viral particle release. Gag∆p6 is a truncated form of Pr55Gag lacking the p6 domain usually used as a default surrogate for wild type Pr55Gag for in vitro analysis. With recent advance in production of full-length recombinant Pr55Gag, here, we tested whether the p6 domain also contributes to the RNA binding specificity of Pr55Gag by systematically comparing binding of Pr55Gag and Gag∆p6 to a panel of viral and cellular RNAs. Unexpectedly, our fluorescence data reveal that the p6 domain is absolutely required for specific binding of Pr55Gag to the HIV-1 gRNA. Its deletion resulted not only in a decreased affinity for gRNA, but also in an increased affinity for spliced viral and cellular RNAs. In contrast Gag∆p6 displayed a similar affinity for all tested RNAs. Removal of the C-terminal His-tag from Pr55Gag and Gag∆p6 uniformly increased the Kd values of the RNA-protein complexes by ~ 2.5 fold but did not affect the binding specificities of these proteins. Altogether, our results demonstrate a novel role of the p6 domain in the specificity of Pr55Gag-RNA interactions, and strongly suggest that the p6 domain contributes to the discrimination of HIV-1 gRNA from cellular and spliced viral mRNAs, which is necessary for its selective encapsidation.Full Tex

A conserved uORF impacts APOBEC3G translation and is essential for translational inhibition by the HIV-1 Vif protein

ABSTRACT The HIV-1 Vif protein is essential for viral fitness and pathogenicity. Vif decreases expression of cellular cytosine deaminases APOBEC3G (A3G), A3F, A3D and A3H, which inhibit HIV-1 replication by inducing hypermutations during reverse transcription. Vif counteracts A3G by several non-redundant mechanisms (transcription, translation and protein degradation) that concur in reducing the levels of A3G in cell and in preventing its incorporation into viral particles. How Vif affects A3G translation remains unclear. Here, we uncovered the importance of a short conserved uORF (upstream ORF) located within two critical stem-loop structures of the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of A3G mRNA. Extensive mutagenesis of A3G 5′-UTR, combined with an analysis of their translational effect in transfected cells, indicated that the uORF represses A3G translation and that A3G mRNA is translated through a dual leaky-scanning and re-initiation mechanism. Interestingly, the uORF is also mandatory for the Vif-mediated repression of A3G translation. Furthermore, we showed that the redirection of A3G mRNA into stress granules was dependent not only on Vif, but also on the uORF. Overall, we discovered that A3G translation is regulated by a small uORF conserved in the human population and that Vif uses this specific motif to repress its translation