Linker-mediated PCR for global integration site analysis in splenic human CD4-positive T cells of HIV1-GFP-infected humanized mice
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ABSTRACT: To comprehensively compare the HIV-1 integration sites between viral producing cells (GFP+ cells) and non-producing cells (GFP- cells), linker-mediated PCR is performed by using the samples obtained from HIV1-GFP-infected humanized mice. Additionally, to reactivate latently infected cells, viral non-producing cells (GFP- cells) were stimulated with PMA and ionomycin ex vivo. Then, the viral integration sites in potential latently infected cells (GFP-_GFP+ cells) and the cells with dead/inactivated proviruses (GFP-_GFP- cells) were analyzed by linker-mediated PCR.
Project description:HIV1+ smokers develop emphysema at an earlier age and with a higher incidence than HIV1- smokers. Based on the knowledge that human alveolar macrophages (AM) are capable of producing proteases that degrade extracellular matrix components, we hypothesized that upregulation of AM matrix metalloproteinases may be associated with the emphysema of HIV1+ smokers. To test this hypothesis, microarray analysis was used to screen which MMP genes were expressed by AM isolated by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of HIV1+ smokers with early emphysema. For each of the MMP genes observed to be expressed (MMP-1, -2, -7, -9, -10, -12 and -14), TaqMan PCR was used to quantify the relative expression in AM from 4 groups of individuals: HIV1 healthy nonsmokers, HIV1- healthy smokers, HIV1- smokers with early emphysema and HIV1+ smokers with early emphysema. Strikingly, while AM gene expression of MMPs was higher in HIV1- individuals with emphysema in comparison with HIV1- healthy smokers, for the majority of the MMPs (-1, -7, -9, -10, -12), AM expression from HIV1+ smokers with early emphysema was significantly higher than HIV1- smokers with early emphysema. Consistent with these observations, HIV1+ individuals with early emphysema had higher levels of epithelial lining fluid MMPs (-2, -7, -9,-12) than the 3 HIV1 groups. Interestingly, the active forms of MMP-2, -9 and -12 were detected in epithelial lining fluid from HIV1+ individuals with early emphysema, but not in any of the other groups. Considering that the substrate specificity of the upregulated AM MMPs includes collagenases, gelatinases, matrilysins and elastase, these data suggest that upregulated AM MMP genes and activation of MMP proteins may contribute to the emphysema of HIV1+ individuals who smoke. Keywords: expression study Asymptomatic HIV+ smokers with early emphysema
Project description:HIV1+ smokers develop emphysema at an earlier age and with a higher incidence than HIV1- smokers. Based on the knowledge that human alveolar macrophages (AM) are capable of producing proteases that degrade extracellular matrix components, we hypothesized that upregulation of AM matrix metalloproteinases may be associated with the emphysema of HIV1+ smokers. To test this hypothesis, microarray analysis was used to screen which MMP genes were expressed by AM isolated by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of HIV1+ smokers with early emphysema. For each of the MMP genes observed to be expressed (MMP-1, -2, -7, -9, -10, -12 and -14), TaqMan PCR was used to quantify the relative expression in AM from 4 groups of individuals: HIV1 healthy nonsmokers, HIV1- healthy smokers, HIV1- smokers with early emphysema and HIV1+ smokers with early emphysema. Strikingly, while AM gene expression of MMPs was higher in HIV1- individuals with emphysema in comparison with HIV1- healthy smokers, for the majority of the MMPs (-1, -7, -9, -10, -12), AM expression from HIV1+ smokers with early emphysema was significantly higher than HIV1- smokers with early emphysema. Consistent with these observations, HIV1+ individuals with early emphysema had higher levels of epithelial lining fluid MMPs (-2, -7, -9,-12) than the 3 HIV1 groups. Interestingly, the active forms of MMP-2, -9 and -12 were detected in epithelial lining fluid from HIV1+ individuals with early emphysema, but not in any of the other groups. Considering that the substrate specificity of the upregulated AM MMPs includes collagenases, gelatinases, matrilysins and elastase, these data suggest that upregulated AM MMP genes and activation of MMP proteins may contribute to the emphysema of HIV1+ individuals who smoke. Keywords: expression study
Project description:Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression is up-regulated in alveolar macrophages (AM) of HIV1+ smokers who develop emphysema. Based on the knowledge that lung epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of HIV1+ smokers has increased levels of inflammatory cytokines compared to HIV1- smokers, we hypothesized up-regulation of lung cytokines in HIV1+ smokers may be functionally related to increased MMP-9 expression. Cytokine arrays evaluated cytokine protein levels in ELF obtained from 5 groups of individuals: HIV1‾ healthy nonsmokers, HIV1‾ healthy smokers, HIV1‾ smokers with low diffusing capacity (DLCO) , HIV1 + nonsmokers, and HIV1 + smokers with low DLCO. Among several pro-inflammatory cytokines elevated in ELF associated with smoking and HIV1+, increased levels of the Th17-related cytokine IL-23 were found in HIV1- smokers with low DLCO and HIV1+ smokers and nonsmokers. Relative IL-23 gene expression was significantly increased in AM of HIV1+ individuals, with greater expression in AM of HIV1+ smokers with low DLCO. Infection with HIV1 in vitro induced IL-23 expression in normal AM. Since AM purified by adherence contain a small number of lymphocytes, we hy-pothesized that in an AM/lymphocyte co-culture system, IL-23 would up-regulate MMP-9. IL-23 stimulation of AM/lymphocyte co-cultures in vitro induced increased MMP-9 mRNA levels and protein. AM of healthy individuals did not express IL-23 receptors (IL-23R), lung T lymphocytes express IL-23R and interact with AM in order to up-regulate MMP-9. This mechanism may contribute to the increased tissue destruction in the lungs of HIV1+ smokers and suggests that Th-17 related inflammation may play a role. IL-23 upregulates MMP-9 expression in human alveolar macrophages via a T lymphocyte/alveolar macrophage interaction, suggesting a possible role for Th-17 related inflammation in accelerated emphysema in HIV1+ smokers.
Project description:Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression is up-regulated in alveolar macrophages (AM) of HIV1+ smokers who develop emphysema. Based on the knowledge that lung epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of HIV1+ smokers has increased levels of inflammatory cytokines compared to HIV1- smokers, we hypothesized up-regulation of lung cytokines in HIV1+ smokers may be functionally related to increased MMP-9 expression. Cytokine arrays evaluated cytokine protein levels in ELF obtained from 5 groups of individuals: HIV1‾ healthy nonsmokers, HIV1‾ healthy smokers, HIV1‾ smokers with low diffusing capacity (DLCO) , HIV1 + nonsmokers, and HIV1 + smokers with low DLCO. Among several pro-inflammatory cytokines elevated in ELF associated with smoking and HIV1+, increased levels of the Th17-related cytokine IL-23 were found in HIV1- smokers with low DLCO and HIV1+ smokers and nonsmokers. Relative IL-23 gene expression was significantly increased in AM of HIV1+ individuals, with greater expression in AM of HIV1+ smokers with low DLCO. Infection with HIV1 in vitro induced IL-23 expression in normal AM. Since AM purified by adherence contain a small number of lymphocytes, we hy-pothesized that in an AM/lymphocyte co-culture system, IL-23 would up-regulate MMP-9. IL-23 stimulation of AM/lymphocyte co-cultures in vitro induced increased MMP-9 mRNA levels and protein. AM of healthy individuals did not express IL-23 receptors (IL-23R), lung T lymphocytes express IL-23R and interact with AM in order to up-regulate MMP-9. This mechanism may contribute to the increased tissue destruction in the lungs of HIV1+ smokers and suggests that Th-17 related inflammation may play a role. IL-23 upregulates MMP-9 expression in human alveolar macrophages via a T lymphocyte/alveolar macrophage interaction, suggesting a possible role for Th-17 related inflammation in accelerated emphysema in HIV1+ smokers.
Project description:To analyse the effect of endocannabinoid AEA on the expression of inflammation related miRNAs in HIV1 TAT activated Normal Human Astrocytes.
Project description:Suppressive HAART does not eradicate HIV-1 and viral DNA persists as a stably integrated form in the absence of viral particle production. As a consequence, latent reservoirs are refractory to antiretroviral drugs and invisible to immune surveillance. The largest latent reservoir consists of resting memory CD4+ T cells. These cells can resume viral infection when activated through antigen recognition, causing bursts of viremia (blips). Current therapies targeting latent HIV-1 have focused primarily on the M-bM-^@M-^\shock and killM-bM-^@M-^] approach, which employs M-bM-^@M-^\anti-latencyM-bM-^@M-^] drugs M-bM-^@M-^S most notably histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors M-bM-^@M-^S to reactivate and flush latent provirus from its cellular reservoirs in the absence of global T cell activation. This approach is predicated on the notions that viral reactivation will lead to the demise of the infected cell, and that HAART will prevent spreading of the infection. On the contrary, recent evidence indicates that latently infected CD4+ T cells of HIV-1 patients on HAART survive in vitro viral reactivation with the HDAC inhibitor, SAHA, even when co-cultured with autologous CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Moreover, it remains to be addressed the impact of anti-latency drugs on viral reservoirs undergoing low-level ongoing replication, inherently more resistant to the cytopathic effects of HIV-1 and residing in anatomical sites hard to reach for some antiretroviral drugs (e.g. macrophages). As a consequence, there is a need to develop alternative therapeutic approaches aimed at eliminating or decreasing the latent reservoir. Progress in that direction has been hindered by the lack of biomarkers uniquely or differentially expressed on latently infected compared to their uninfected counterparts. To gain insight into the cellular mechanisms that take place in the context of latency, and with the goal of identifying distinctive markers that distinguish latently infected CD4+ T cells, we have used an in vitro model developed in our laboratory to study the expression profile of latently infected CD4+ T cells by microarray analysis. We have used a culture system, previously established in our laboratory, to generate and isolate quiescent latently infected CD4+ T cells in vitro. In this in vitro HIV-1 latency model, CD4+ T cells are activated, infected with full length, replication competent HIV-1, and then returned to quiescence in the presence of IL-7, yielding a culture of quiescent latently infected and uninfected cells. We showed that HIV-1 p24gag expressed during viral replication persists in the cytoplasm of latently infected cells for several days before being degraded. Therefore, we exploited the presence of cytoplasmic p24gag to sort latently infected from uninfected cells by FACS from the same initial cell culture. Total RNA was isolated from sorted latently infected and uninfected cells generated from CD4+ T cells of four different donors. Paired RNA samples from infected and uninfected cells were labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 to allow dual-color competitive hybridization. Moreover, to control for the dye bias in our experiments, we implemented a dye swap protocol (reciprocal labeling) for paired RNA samples from 2 donors. Samples were analyzed by dual-color competitive hybridization on the Agilent whole human genome microarrays (41,000 unique probes). This is the first comparative genomic profiling of primary latently infected resting memory CD4+ T cells versus their uninfected counterparts sorted from the same culture. Microarray analyses performed in this study revealed profound differences between latently infected and uninfected cells. Of relevance are genes involved, not only in previously described pathways related with transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, but affecting proliferation, survival, cell cycle progression and cell metabolism. This could explain why latently infected cells have been resistant to reactivation with current anti-latency approaches. Thus, targeting of more downstream steps, such as the ones identified in this study, may be able to enhance viral flushing from refractory latent reservoirs. In addition, we identified a panel of surface makers differentially expressed in latently infected cells, which seem worth investigating for their potential use as biomarkers. Indeed, they might allow the enrichment of this latent reservoir for molecular in depth studies, for monitoring the size of the latent reservoir in the clinical setting, as well as for the development of new therapeutic strategies aimed at eradicating this reservoir.
Project description:Chronic viral infections are difficult to treat and new approaches, particularly those involving enhancing immune responses are needed. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) establishes latency, reactivates frequently, and breakthrough reactivation can occur despite suppressive antiviral therapy. Virus-specific T cells are important to control HSV, and activated T cells require increased metabolism of glutamine for their proliferation. We found that treatment of HSV-1 latently infected mice and HSV-2 infected guinea pigs with supplemental oral glutamine reduced virus reactivation. Transcriptome analysis of mice treated with glutamine showed that several interferon (IFN)-γ inducible genes were upregulated. Unlike wild-type mice, supplemental glutamine was ineffective in reducing the rate of HSV-1 reactivation in IFN-γ knock-out mice. Mice treated with glutamine had higher numbers of HSV-specific IFN-γ producing CD8 T cells in latently infected ganglia. Thus, glutamine may enhance the IFN-γ-associated immune response and reduce the rate of reactivation of latent virus infection.
Project description:Chronic viral infections are difficult to treat and new approaches, particularly those involving enhancing immune responses are needed. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) establishes latency, reactivates frequently, and breakthrough reactivation can occur despite suppressive antiviral therapy. Virus-specific T cells are important to control HSV, and activated T cells require increased metabolism of glutamine for their proliferation. We found that treatment of HSV-1 latently infected mice and HSV-2 infected guinea pigs with supplemental oral glutamine reduced virus reactivation. Transcriptome analysis of mice treated with glutamine showed that several interferon (IFN)-γ inducible genes were upregulated. Unlike wild-type mice, supplemental glutamine was ineffective in reducing the rate of HSV-1 reactivation in IFN-γ knock-out mice. Mice treated with glutamine had higher numbers of HSV-specific IFN-γ producing CD8 T cells in latently infected ganglia. Thus, glutamine may enhance the IFN-γ-associated immune response and reduce the rate of reactivation of latent virus infection.