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HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins isolated from Viremic Non-Progressor individuals are fully functional and cytopathic.

ABSTRACT: In untreated HIV-1-infected individuals, viremia is positively associated with disease progression. However, some viremic non progressors (VNPs) individuals show paradoxical high CD4⁺ T cell counts. HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein complex (Env) is a major cytopathic determinant in viral replication; therefore, we have deeply characterized Env function in this rare clinical phenotype. Full-length Env clones isolated from individuals with Viral Load (VL) > 10,000 copies/mL classified as VNPs (n?=?15) or rapid progressors (RPs, n?=?17) were geno- and phenotypically analyzed by determining diversity, expression, CD4 binding/signaling, fusogenicity, infectivity and autophagy induction. Selected Env clones from VNPs and RPs (n?=?32) showed similar expression, fusion and infection abilities. Env clones from both groups showed similar affinity for CD4 during cell-to-cell transmission and consistently induced similar levels of CD4 signaling, measured by ?-tubulin acetylation. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that primary Env clones from VNP and RP induce autophagy in uninfected cells and that this feature correlated with fusogenic capacity but was unrelated to disease progression. In conclusion, our data suggest that Env clones from VNP individuals are fully functional. Therefore, the paradoxical CD4⁺ T cell count stability coexisting with high levels of viral replication is unrelated to Env function.

SUBMITTER: Cabrera-Rodriguez R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6447548 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins isolated from Viremic Non-Progressor individuals are fully functional and cytopathic.

Cabrera-Rodríguez Romina R Hebmann Veronique V Marfil Silvia S Pernas María M Marrero-Hernández Sara S Cabrera Cecilia C Urrea Victor V Casado Concepción C Olivares Isabel I Márquez-Arce Daniel D Pérez-Yanes Silvia S Estévez-Herrera Judith J Clotet Bonaventura B Espert Lucile L López-Galíndez Cecilio C Biard-Piechaczyk Martine M Valenzuela-Fernández Agustín A Blanco Julià J

Scientific reports 20190403 1

In untreated HIV-1-infected individuals, viremia is positively associated with disease progression. However, some viremic non progressors (VNPs) individuals show paradoxical high CD4<sup>+</sup> T cell counts. HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein complex (Env) is a major cytopathic determinant in viral replication; therefore, we have deeply characterized Env function in this rare clinical phenotype. Full-length Env clones isolated from individuals with Viral Load (VL) > 10,000 copies/mL classified as VNP ...[more]

PMID: 30944395

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Project description:BackgroundProgression rates from initial HIV-1 infection to advanced AIDS vary significantly among infected individuals. A distinct subgroup of HIV-1-infected individuals-termed viremic non-progressors (VNP) or controllers-do not seem to progress to AIDS, maintaining high CD4+ T cell counts despite high levels of viremia for many years. Several studies have evaluated multiple host factors, including immune activation, trying to elucidate the atypical HIV-1 disease progression in these patients; however, limited work has been done to characterize viral factors in viremic controllers.MethodsWe analyzed HIV-1 isolates from three VNP individuals and compared the replicative fitness, near full-length HIV-1 genomes and intra-patient HIV-1 genetic diversity with viruses from three typical (TP) and one rapid (RP) progressor individuals.ResultsViremic non-progressors and typical patients were infected for >10 years (range 10-17 years), with a mean CD4+ T-cell count of 472 cells/mm3 (442-529) and 400 cells/mm3 (126-789), respectively. VNP individuals had a less marked decline in CD4+ cells (mean -0.56, range -0.4 to -0.7 CD4+/month) than TP patients (mean -10.3, -8.2 to -13.1 CD4+/month). Interestingly, VNP individuals carried viruses with impaired replicative fitness, compared to HIV-1 isolates from the TP and RP patients (p < 0.05, 95% CI). Although analyses of the near full-length HIV-1 genomes showed no clear patterns of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) that could explain the decrease in replicative fitness, both the number of SNPs and HIV-1 population diversity correlated inversely with the replication capacity of the viruses (r = -0.956 and r = -0.878, p < 0.01, respectively).ConclusionIt is likely that complex multifactorial parameters govern HIV-1 disease progression in each individual, starting with the infecting virus (phenotype, load, and quasispecies diversity) and the intrinsic ability of the host to respond to the infection. Here we analyzed a subset of viremic controller patients and demonstrated that similar to the phenomenon observed in patients with a discordant response to antiretroviral therapy (i.e., high CD4+ cell counts with detectable plasma HIV-1 RNA load), reduced viral replicative fitness seems to be linked to slow disease progression in these antiretroviral-naïve individuals.

Project description:BACKGROUND: CD4 T-cell decay is variable among HIV-infected individuals. In exceptional cases, CD4 T-cell counts remain stable despite high plasma viremia. HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env) properties, namely tropism, fusion or the ability to induce the NK ligand NKp44L, or host factors that modulate Env cytopathic mechanisms may be modified in such situation. METHODS: We identified untreated HIV-infected individuals showing non-cytopathic replication (VL>10,000 copies/mL and CD4 T-cell decay<50 cells/µL/year, Viremic Non Progressors, VNP) or rapid progression (CD4 T-cells<350 cells/µL within three years post-infection, RP). We isolated full-length Env clones and analyzed their functions (tropism, fusion activity and capacity to induce NKp44L expression on CD4 cells). Anti-Env humoral responses were also analyzed. RESULTS: Env clones isolated from VNP or RP individuals showed no major phenotypic differences. The percentage of functional clones was similar in both groups. All clones tested were CCR5-tropic and showed comparable expression and fusogenic activity. Moreover, no differences were observed in their capacity to induce NKp44L expression on CD4 T cells from healthy donors through the 3S epitope of gp41. In contrast, anti- Env antibodies showed clear functional differences: plasma from VNPs had significantly higher capacity than RPs to block NKp44L induction by autologous viruses. Consistently, CD4 T-cells isolated from VNPs showed undetectable NKp44L expression and specific antibodies against a variable region flanking the highly conserved 3S epitope were identified in plasma samples from these patients. Conversely, despite continuous antigen stimulation, VNPs were unable to mount a broad neutralizing response against HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Env functions (fusion and induction of NKp44L) were similar in viremic patients with slow or rapid progression to AIDS. However, differences in humoral responses against gp41 epitopes nearby 3S sequence may contribute to the lack of CD4 T cell decay in VNPs by blocking the induction of NKp44L by gp41.

Project description:We assessed correlates of protection from disease progression in a rare subset of HIV-infected individuals, viremic non-progressors (VNPs). These individuals have high viral load for several years, but in contrast to the majority of infected individuals, they do not progress to AIDS. Here we found this lack of progression was associated with selective preservation of two essential subsets of memory CD4+ T cells, central memory (TCM) and stem-cell memory (TSCM) cells. Compared to HIV-infected putative progressors, VNPs had higher proliferation of these indispensable subsets of memory cells, which was associated with the number of TCM. In addition, the long-lived CD4+ TCM and TSCM cells in VNPs had decreased HIV infection compared to the less critical effector memory CD4+ T cells, which indicates a possible mechanism by which VNPs maintain their CD4+ T cell pool after several years of infection, and remain free from AIDS progression. 6 HIV-infected patients fitting the clinical criteria of Viremic Non-Progressors were identified. VNPs were defined as having confirmed HIV-1 infection for at least 9 years with sustained plasma HIV RNA levels >10,000 copies/ml and maintenance of peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts >500 cells/mm3 and a CD4% (of all lymphocytes) >15%. As controls, 7 HIV-infected Putative Progressors were identified. PPs were defined as having plasma HIV RNA levels >10,000 copies/mL, CD4+ T cell counts >400 cells/mm3 and having been initially infected with HIV 2-24 months prior to the index visit. The estimated date of initial HIV infection was calculated according to published algorithms that incorporate âde-tunedâ anti-HIV-1 antibody ELISA results or by a documented sero-conversion window of <6 months. All participants were required to be antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naÃ¯ve. RNA from 6 VNP and 7 PPs was purified from PAXgene whole blood tubes and hybridized to Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 arrays. During data analysis, one VNP patient (PID 4015) was determined to be an outlier and removed from further analysis. Thus, 5 VNPs and 7 PPs are represented in this Series.

Project description:Binding to the receptor, CD4, drives the pretriggered, "closed" (state-1) conformation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer into more "open" conformations (states 2 and 3). Broadly neutralizing antibodies, which are elicited inefficiently, mostly recognize the state-1 Env conformation, whereas the more commonly elicited poorly neutralizing antibodies recognize states 2/3. HIV-1 Env metastability has created challenges for defining the state-1 structure and developing immunogens mimicking this labile conformation. The availability of functional state-1 Envs that can be efficiently cross-linked at lysine and/or acidic amino acid residues might assist these endeavors. To that end, we modified HIV-1AD8 Env, which exhibits an intermediate level of triggerability by CD4. We introduced lysine/acidic residues at positions that exhibit such polymorphisms in natural HIV-1 strains. Env changes that were tolerated with respect to gp120-gp41 processing, subunit association, and virus entry were further combined. Two common polymorphisms, Q114E and Q567K, as well as a known variant, A582T, additively rendered pseudoviruses resistant to cold, soluble CD4, and a CD4-mimetic compound, phenotypes indicative of stabilization of the pretriggered state-1 Env conformation. Combining these changes resulted in two lysine-rich HIV-1AD8 Env variants (E.2 and AE.2) with neutralization- and cold-resistant phenotypes comparable to those of natural, less triggerable tier 2/3 HIV-1 isolates. Compared with these and the parental Envs, the E.2 and AE.2 Envs were cleaved more efficiently and exhibited stronger gp120-trimer association in detergent lysates. These highly cross-linkable Envs enriched in a pretriggered conformation should assist characterization of the structure and immunogenicity of this labile state. IMPORTANCE The development of an efficient vaccine is critical for combating HIV-1 infection worldwide. However, the instability of the pretriggered shape (state 1) of the viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) makes it difficult to raise neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1. Here, by introducing multiple changes in Env, we derived two HIV-1 Env variants that are enriched in state 1 and can be efficiently cross-linked to maintain this shape. These Env complexes are more stable in detergent, assisting their purification. Thus, our study provides a path to a better characterization of the native pretriggered Env, which should assist vaccine development.

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HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins isolated from Viremic Non-Progressor individuals are fully functional and cytopathic.

Publications

HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins isolated from Viremic Non-Progressor individuals are fully functional and cytopathic.

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