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Macedo AB, Levinger C, Nguyen BN, Richard J, Gupta M, Cruz CRY, Finzi A, Chiappinelli KB, Crandall KA, Bosque A. The HIV Latency Reversal Agent HODHBt Enhances NK Cell Effector and Memory-Like Functions by Increasing Interleukin-15-Mediated STAT Activation. J Virol 2022; 96:e0037222. [PMID: 35867565 PMCID: PMC9364794 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00372-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Elimination of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoirs is a critical endpoint to eradicate HIV. One therapeutic intervention against latent HIV is "shock and kill." This strategy is based on the transcriptional activation of latent HIV with a latency-reversing agent (LRA) with the consequent killing of the reactivated cell by either the cytopathic effect of HIV or the immune system. We have previously found that the small molecule 3-hydroxy-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3H)-one (HODHBt) acts as an LRA by increasing signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) factor activation mediated by interleukin-15 (IL-15) in cells isolated from aviremic participants. The IL-15 superagonist N-803 is currently under clinical investigation to eliminate latent reservoirs. IL-15 and N-803 share similar mechanisms of action by promoting the activation of STATs and have shown some promise in preclinical models directed toward HIV eradication. In this work, we evaluated the ability of HODHBt to enhance IL-15 signaling in natural killer (NK) cells and the biological consequences associated with increased STAT activation in NK cell effector and memory-like functions. We showed that HODHBt increased IL-15-mediated STAT phosphorylation in NK cells, resulting in increases in the secretion of CXCL-10 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and the expression of cytotoxic proteins, including granzyme B, granzyme A, perforin, granulysin, FASL, and TRAIL. This increased cytotoxic profile results in increased cytotoxicity against HIV-infected cells and different tumor cell lines. HODHBt also improved the generation of cytokine-induced memory-like NK cells. Overall, our data demonstrate that enhancing the magnitude of IL-15 signaling with HODHBt favors NK cell cytotoxicity and memory-like generation, and thus, targeting this pathway could be further explored for HIV cure interventions. IMPORTANCE Several clinical trials targeting the HIV latent reservoir with LRAs have been completed. In spite of a lack of clinical benefit, they have been crucial to elucidate hurdles that "shock and kill" strategies have to overcome to promote an effective reduction of the latent reservoir to lead to a cure. These hurdles include low reactivation potential mediated by LRAs, the negative influence of some LRAs on the activity of natural killer and effector CD8 T cells, an increased resistance to apoptosis of latently infected cells, and an exhausted immune system due to chronic inflammation. To that end, finding therapeutic strategies that can overcome some of these challenges could improve the outcome of shock and kill strategies aimed at HIV eradication. Here, we show that the LRA HODHBt also improves IL-15-mediated NK cell effector and memory-like functions. As such, pharmacological enhancement of IL-15-mediated STAT activation can open new therapeutic avenues toward an HIV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda B. Macedo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Callie Levinger
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Bryan N. Nguyen
- Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jonathan Richard
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mamta Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- GW Cancer Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Conrad Russell Y. Cruz
- GW Cancer Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andrés Finzi
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Katherine B. Chiappinelli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- GW Cancer Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Keith A. Crandall
- Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alberto Bosque
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is closely associated with the abnormal immune response of intestinal immune system to enterobacteria and dietary antigens. Large amounts of mononuclear lymphocyte infiltrates and high expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines and costimulatory molecules are present in inflamed mucosa. NK cells, involved in innate and acquired immune response, have cytolitic activities through secretion of lytic proteins, and produce proinflammatory mediators. Increased infiltration of NK cells present in inflamed mucosa of IBD expresses high levels of activated molecules and proinflammatory cytokines, and plays a role in intestinal mucosal damage.
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