Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of U937 cells promotes cell differentiation and a new pathway of viral assembly

Reactivation from latency displays HIV particle budding at plasma membrane, accompanying CD44 upregulation and recruitment

BACKGROUND

It has been accepted that HIV buds from the cell surface in T lymphocytes, whereas in macrophages it buds into intracellular endosomes. Recent studies, on the other hand, suggest that HIV preferentially buds from the cell surface even in monocytic cells. However, most studies are based on observations in acutely infected cells and little is known about HIV budding concomitant with reactivation from latency. Such studies would provide a better understanding of a reservoir for HIV.

RESULTS

We observed HIV budding in latently infected T lymphocytic and monocytic cell lines following TNF-alpha stimulation and examined the upregulation of host factors that may be involved in particle production. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that reactivation of latently infected J1.1 cells (latently infected Jurkat cells with HIV-1) and U1 cells (latently infected U937 cells with HIV-1) displayed HIV particle budding predominantly at the plasma membrane, a morphology that is similar to particle budding in acutely infected Jurkat and U937 cells. When mRNA expression levels were quantified by qRT-PCR, we found that particle production from reactivated J1.1 and U1 cells was accompanied by CD44 upregulation. This upregulation was similarly observed when Jurkat and U937 cells were acutely infected with HIV-1 but not when just stimulated with TNF-alpha, suggesting that CD44 upregulation was linked with HIV production but not with cell stimulation. The molecules in endocytic pathways such as CD63 and HRS were also upregulated when U1 cells were reactivated and U937 cells were acutely infected with HIV-1. Confocal microscopy revealed that these upregulated host molecules were recruited to and accumulated at the sites where mature particles were formed at the plasma membrane.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that HIV particles are budded at the plasma membrane upon reactivation from latency, a morphology that is similar to particle budding in acute infection. Our data also suggest that HIV expression may lead to the upregulation of certain host cell molecules that are recruited to sites of particle assembly, possibly coordinating particle production.

Replication of HIV-1 in Vivo and in Vitro

A complex relationship exists between HIV and its cellular targets. The lethal effect of HIV on circulating CD4(+) helper T lymphocytes parallels the degree of the infected individual's immunodeficiency and ultimately the transition to AIDS and death. However, as with other members of the Lentivirus family of retroviruses, the ubiquitous, mobile macrophage is also a prime target for HIV infection, and apparently, in most instances, is the initial infected cell, since most people are infected with a CCR5 chemokine-tropic virus. Unlike the lymphocyte, the macrophage is apparently a more stable viral host, capable of a long infected life as an HIV reservoir and a chronic source of infectious virus. Published in vitro studies have indicated that whereas lymphocytes replicate HIV solely on their plasma membrane, macrophages have been envisaged to predominantly replicate HIV within cytoplasmic vacuoles, and thus have been likened to a "Trojan horse," when it comes to the immune system. Recent studies have revealed an ingenious way by which the cultured monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) replicates HIV and releases it into the medium. The key macrophage organelle appears to be what is alternatively referred to as the "late endosome" (LE) or the "multivesicular body" (MVB), which have a short and a long history, respectively. Proof of the association is that chemically, LE/MVB and their vesicles possess several pathopneumonic membrane markers (e.g., CD63) that are found on released HIV particles. The hypothesis is that HIV usurps this vesicle-forming mechanism and employs it for its own replication. Release of the intravacuolar virus from the cell is hypothesized to occur by a process referred to as exocytosis, resulting from the fusion of virus-laden LE/MVB with the plasma membrane of the macrophage. Interestingly, LE/MVB are also involved in the infection stage of MDM by HIV. Close review of the literature reveals that along with the Golgi, which contributes to the formation of LE/MVB, the MVB was first identified as a site of HIV replication by macrophages many years ago, but the full implication of this observation was not appreciated at the time. As in many other areas of HIV research, what has been totally lacking is an in vivo confirmation of the in vitro phenomenon. Herein, the ultrastructure of HIV interaction with cells in vitro and in vivo is explored. It is shown that while HIV is regularly found in LE/MVB in vitro, it is infrequently the case in vivo. Therefore, the results challenge the "Trojan horse" concept.

Rab9 GTPase is required for replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, filoviruses, and measles virus

Rab proteins and their effectors facilitate vesicular transport by tethering donor vesicles to their respective target membranes. By using gene trap insertional mutagenesis, we identified Rab9, which mediates late-endosome-to-trans-Golgi-network trafficking, among several candidate host genes whose disruption allowed the survival of Marburg virus-infected cells, suggesting that Rab9 is utilized in Marburg replication. Although Rab9 has not been implicated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication, previous reports suggested that the late endosome is an initiation site for HIV assembly and that TIP47-dependent trafficking out of the late endosome to the trans-Golgi network facilitates the sorting of HIV Env into virions budding at the plasma membrane. We examined the role of Rab9 in the life cycles of HIV and several unrelated viruses, using small interfering RNA (siRNA) to silence Rab9 expression before viral infection. Silencing Rab9 expression dramatically inhibited HIV replication, as did silencing the host genes encoding TIP47, p40, and PIKfyve, which also facilitate late-endosome-to-trans-Golgi vesicular transport. In addition, silencing studies revealed that HIV replication was dependent on the expression of Rab11A, which mediates trans-Golgi-to-plasma-membrane transport, and that increased HIV Gag was sequestered in a CD63+ endocytic compartment in a cell line stably expressing Rab9 siRNA. Replication of the enveloped Ebola, Marburg, and measles viruses was inhibited with Rab9 siRNA, although the non-enveloped reovirus was insensitive to Rab9 silencing. These results suggest that Rab9 is an important cellular target for inhibiting diverse viruses and help to define a late-endosome-to-plasma-membrane vesicular transport pathway important in viral assembly.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag contains a dileucine-like motif that regulates association with multivesicular bodies

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are cholesterol-enriched organelles formed by the endocytic pathway. The topology of vesicle formation in MVBs is identical to that of retroviral budding from the plasma membrane, and budding of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) into MVBs in macrophages has recently been visualized. The Gag proteins from HIV-1, as well as many other retroviruses, contain short motifs that mediate interactions with MVBs and other endocytic components, suggesting that Gag proteins directly interface with the endocytic pathway. Here, we show that HIV-1 Gag contains an internalization signal that promotes endocytosis of a chimeric transmembrane fusion protein. Mutation of this motif within Gag strongly inhibits virus-like particle production. Moreover, wild-type Gag, but not the internalization-defective mutation, can be induced to accumulate within CD63-positive MVBs by treatment of cells with U18666A, a drug that redistributes cholesterol from the plasma membrane to MVBs. We propose that HIV-1 Gag contains a signal that promotes interaction with the cellular endocytic machinery and that the site of particle production is regulated by the subcellular distribution of cholesterol.

Mechanisms of enveloped RNA virus budding

To spread infection, enveloped viruses must bud from infected host cells. Recent research indicates that HIV and other enveloped RNA viruses bud by appropriating the cellular machinery that is normally used to create vesicles that bud into late endosomal compartments called multivesicular bodies. This new model of virus budding has many potential implications for cell biology and viral pathogenesis.

Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus: evidence for a B/D-type assembly pathway in a C-type lentivirus replication

Lentiviruses, among which is caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV), are known to concomitantly assemble and bud at the plasma membrane of infected cells, in a C-type defined pathway. Electron microscopy analysis of CAEV-infected cells demonstrated viral particles budding at the plasma membrane and into intracellular membrane-surrounded vesicles. Furthermore, nonenveloped immature virus-like particles, resembling intracytoplasmic type-A particles (ICAPs), accumulated within the cytoplasm of those cells. Fractionation on sucrose density gradients of cytoplasmic lysates from CAEV-infected cells revealed that enveloped immature or mature viral particles had a density of 1.16--1.17 g/ml, whereas ICAPs sedimented at a density of 1.2--1.27 g/ml. Endogenous reverse transcriptase activity was only associated with the 1.16--1.17 g/ml density particles despite the presence of viral RNA in both populations. The intracellular enveloped particles were found to be infectious. The CAEV Gag precursor by itself was shown to direct assembly, budding, and release of immature virus-like particles when expressed in goat primary synovial membrane cells using the same pathways of assembly and budding as observed in CAEV-infected cells. These data suggest that CAEV assembly, driven by the Gag precursor, could unusually proceed via two simultaneous pathways characteristic of type-C and type-B/D retroviruses.

A cell-line-specific defect in the intracellular transport and release of assembled retroviral capsids

Retrovirus assembly involves a complex series of events in which a large number of proteins must be targeted to a point on the plasma membrane where immature viruses bud from the cell. Gag polyproteins of most retroviruses assemble an immature capsid on the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane during the budding process (C-type assembly), but a few assemble immature capsids deep in the cytoplasm and are then transported to the plasma membrane (B- or D-type assembly), where they are enveloped. With both assembly phenotypes, Gag polyproteins must be transported to the site of viral budding in either a relatively unassembled form (C type) or a completely assembled form (B and D types). The molecular nature of this transport process and the host cell factors that are involved have remained obscure. During the development of a recombinant baculovirus/insect cell system for the expression of both C-type and D-type Gag polyproteins, we discovered an insect cell line (High Five) with two distinct defects that resulted in the reduced release of virus-like particles. The first of these was a pronounced defect in the transport of D-type but not C-type Gag polyproteins to the plasma membrane. High Five cells expressing wild-type Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) Gag precursors accumulate assembled immature capsids in large cytoplasmic aggregates similar to a transport-defective mutant (MA-A18V). In contrast, a larger fraction of the Gag molecules encoded by the M-PMV C-type morphogenesis mutant (MA-R55W) and those of human immunodeficiency virus were transported to the plasma membrane for assembly and budding of virions. When pulse-labeled Gag precursors from High Five cells were fractionated on velocity gradients, they sedimented more rapidly, indicating that they are sequestered in a higher-molecular-mass complex. Compared to Sf9 insect cells, the High Five cells also demonstrate a defect in the release of C-type virus particles. These findings support the hypothesis that host cell factors are important in the process of Gag transport and in the release of enveloped viral particles.

HIV-1-induced perturbations of glycosphingolipid metabolism are cell-specific and can be detected at early stages of HIV-1 infection

The metabolism of glycosphingolipids (GSL) has been investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 8 patients at an early stage of HIV-1 infection. Following metabolic labeling of these cells with [14C]galactose, the GSL were purified and the radioactivity incorporated into each individual GSL quantitated by phosphoimaging. Compared with PBMC from seronegative donors, the GSL metabolism in PBMC from HIV-1-infected individuals was characterized by an increased synthesis of two GSL: the B-lymphocyte differentiation antigen globotriaosylceramide (Gb3, also referred to as CD77), and the monosialoganglioside GM3, a marker of T-lymphocytes and macrophages. The accumulation of Gb3 and GM3 in PBMC from HIV-1-infected patients was associated with the appearance of anti-Gb3 and anti-GM3 antibodies. Because these GSL are involved in the control of cell proliferation and signal transduction, such anti-GSL autoantibodies may contribute to the immune suppression during the course of HIV-1 infection. Studies on purified cell populations showed that GM3 accumulation occurred preferentially in HIV-1-infected monocytes/macrophages, whereas the synthesis glucosylceramide, the common precursor of complex GSL, was enhanced in both macrophages and CD4+ lymphocytes. Taken together, our data suggest that the dysregulation of GSL metabolism is an early event of HIV-1 pathogenesis that can induce important effects on immune cells homeostasis.

Retinoid-induced repression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 core promoter activity inhibits virus replication

The rates of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), progression to AIDS following HIV-1 infection, and AIDS-associated mortality are all inversely correlated with serum vitamin A levels (R. D. Semba, W. T. Caiaffa, N. M. H. Graham, S. Cohn, and D. Vlahov, J. Infect. Dis. 171:1196-1202, 1995; R. D. Semba, N. M. H. Graham, W. T. Caiaffa, J. B. Margolik, L. Clement, and D. Vlahov, Arch. Intern. Med. 153:2149-2154, 1993; R. D. Semba, P. G. Miotti, J. D. Chiphangwi, A. J. Saah, J. K. Canner, G. A. Dallabetta, and D. R. Hoover, Lancet 343:1593-1596, 1994). Here we show that physiological concentrations of vitamin A, as retinol or as its metabolite, all-trans retinoic acid, repressed HIV-1Ba-L replication in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). Repression required retinoid treatment of peripheral monocytes during their in vitro differentiation into MDMs. Retinoids had no repressive effect if they were added after virus infection. Retinol, as well as all-trans retinoic acid and 9-cis retinoic acid, also repressed HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-directed expression up to 200-fold in transfected THP-1 monocytes. Analysis of HIV-1 LTR deletion mutants demonstrated that retinoids were able to repress activation of HIV-1 expression by both NF-kappaB and Tat. A cis-acting sequence required for retinoid-mediated repression of HIV-1 transcription was localized between nucleotides -51 and +12 of the HIV-1 LTR within the core promoter. Protein-DNA cross-linking experiments identified four proteins specific to retinoid-treated cells that bound to the core promoter. We conclude that retinoids render macrophages resistant to virus replication by modulating the interaction of cellular transcription factors with the viral core promoter.

Chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of myeloid cells disrupts the autoregulatory control of the NF-kappaB/Rel pathway via enhanced IkappaBalpha degradation

Productive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection causes sustained NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity in chronically infected monocytic cells. A direct temporal correlation exists between HIV infection and the appearance of NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity in myelomonoblastic PLB-985 cells. To examine the molecular basis of constitutive NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity in HIV1 -infected cells, we analyzed the phosphorylation and turnover of IkappaBalpha protein, the activity of the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) and the intracellular levels of NF-kappaB subunits in the PLB-985 and U937 myeloid cell models. HIV-1 infection resulted in constitutive, low-level expression of type 1 interferon (IFN) at the mRNA level. Constitutive PKR activity was also detected in HIV-1-infected cells as a result of low-level IFN production, since the addition of anti-IFN-alpha/beta antibody to the cells decreased PKR expression. Furthermore, the analysis of IkappaBalpha turnover demonstrated an increased degradation of IkappaBalpha in HIV-1-infected cells that may account for the constitutive DNA binding activity. A dramatic increase in the intracellular levels of NF-kappaB subunits c-Rel and NF-kappaB2 p100 and a moderate increase in NF-kappaB2 p52 and RelA(p65) were detected in HIV-1-infected cells, whereas NF-kappaB1 p105/p50 levels were not altered relative to the levels in uninfected cells. We suggest that HIV-1 infection of myeloid cells induces IFN production and PKR activity, which in turn contribute to enhanced IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and subsequent degradation. Nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB subunits may ultimately increase the intracellular pool of NF-kappaB/IkappaBalpha by an autoregulatory mechanism. Enhanced turnover of IkappaBalpha and the accumulation of NF-kappaB/Rel proteins may contribute to the chronically activated state of HIV-1-infected cells.

Anti-idiotypic antibody to the V3 domain of gp120 binds to vimentin: a possible role of intermediate filaments in the early steps of HIV-1 infection cycle

Although the CD4 molecule is the major cellular receptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), several lines of evidence suggest participation of additional molecules that are engaged after the binding of HIV to the CD4 receptor and that may facilitate viral entry into the target cell. Some of the post-CD4 binding, perfusion events involve the third hypervariable region (V3 loop) of the viral envelope protein gp120. To identify cellular proteins that interact with the V3 loop, we chose as a probe an antiidiotypic monoclonal antibody (MAb), anti-id2, which was prepared against the neutralizing MAb 110.4 that binds the V3 domain in the envelope glycoprotein gp120 of the LAI isolate of HIV-1. Anti-id2 reacted specifically with a 55- to 60-kDa protein in human T cell and monocytoid cell lines, and in a mouse melanoma cell line. This protein was identified immunologically and by protein sequence analysis as vimentin, an intermediate filament protein of lymphoid and other cells of mesodermal origin. Antiserum raised against vimentin inhibited nuclear translocation of HIV-1 DNA following infection of monocytes and CD4+ T cells with live virus, and reduced the amount of HIV-1 gag-specific RNA in the nuclei of monocytes following inoculation with HIV-1 pseudovirions. These data suggest that vimentin may participate in the early steps of HIV-1 replication, perhaps during the uptake of HIV-1 preintegration complexes into the nuclear compartment.

The cytoplasmic tail of CD4 is required for inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication by antibodies that bind to the immunoglobulin CDR3-like region in domain 1 of CD4

Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) directed against the immunoglobulin complementary determining region 3 (CDR3)-like region of the CD4 molecule inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transcription. We report here data showing that the cytoplasmic tail of CD4 is required for such inhibition to be achieved. To this aim, we studied the effect of MAb 13B8-2 treatment on (i) HIV-1 production in A2.01 cells, which express different forms of the CD4 gene, (ii) Tat-induced HIV-1 promoter activation, and (iii) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, which is induced in CD4-positive cells by HIV-1 cross-linking of CD4. Inhibition of HIV production by 13B8-2 MAb treatment was consistently observed in cells expressing wild-type CD4 and cells expressing a hybrid CD4-CD8 molecule (amino acids 1 to 177 of CD4 fused to the hinge, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains of CD8). However, no delay in HIV-1 production was observed in cells expressing a truncated CD4 which lacks the cytoplasmic domain (CD4.401). Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assays demonstrated that Tat-dependent activation of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat promoter was inhibited by MAb 13B8-2 in A2.01/CD4 and A2.01/CD4-CD8 but not in A2.01/CD4.401 cells. Finally, we found that MAb 13B8-2 treatment inhibited the activation of MAPK induced in A2.01/CD4 and A2.01/CD4-CD8 following cross-linking of CD4 by HIV-1.

Regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and cytokine gene expression in myeloid cells by NF-kappa B/Rel transcription factors

CD4+ macrophages in tissues such as lung, skin, and lymph nodes, promyelocytic cells in bone marrow, and peripheral blood monocytes serve as important targets and reservoirs for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. HIV-1-infected myeloid cells are often diminished in their ability to participate in chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and intracellular killing. HIV-1 infection of myeloid cells can lead to the expression of surface receptors associated with cellular activation and/or differentiation that increase the responsiveness of these cells to cytokines secreted by neighboring cells as well as to bacteria or other pathogens. Enhancement of HIV-1 replication is related in part to increased DNA-binding activity of cellular transcription factors such as NF-kappa B. NF-kappa B binds to the HIV-1 enhancer region of the long terminal repeat and contributes to the inducibility of HIV-1 gene expression in response to multiple activating agents. Phosphorylation and degradation of the cytoplasmic inhibitor I kappa B alpha are crucial regulatory events in the activation of NF-kappa B DNA-binding activity. Both N- and C-terminal residues of I kappa B alpha are required for inducer-mediated degradation. Chronic HIV-1 infection of myeloid cells leads to constitutive NF-kappa B DNA-binding activity and provides an intranuclear environment capable of perpetuating HIV-1 replication. Increased intracellular stores of latent NF-kappa B may also result in rapid inducibility of NF-kappa B-dependent cytokine gene expression. In response to secondary pathogenic infections or antigenic challenge, cytokine gene expression is rapidly induced, enhanced, and sustained over prolonged periods in HIV-1-infected myeloid cells compared with uninfected cells. Elevated levels of several inflammatory cytokines have been detected in the sera of HIV-1-infected individuals. Secretion of myeloid cell-derived cytokines may both increase virus production and contribute to AIDS-associated disorders.

High susceptibility of U937-derived subclones to infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is correlated with virus-induced cell differentiation and superoxide generation

The promonocytic human leukemic cell line U937, when infected with lymphotropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), becomes a continuous virus producer. A total of 46 U937-derived subclones in suspension was isolated and classified into three (2 high, 42 middle, and 2 low) types based on their susceptibility to the infection. By analyzing subclones before infection, we found that the high-type subclones expressed LFA-1 antigens at a relatively low level. In addition, the ability of these subclones to induce adherence after exposure to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was reduced. In contrast, a transition by HIV-1 infection to adherent macrophage-like cells was induced only in the high-type, but not in the low-type subclones. The high-type adherent cells obtained by HIV-1 infection were followed by further lineage to become retrodifferentiated suspension cells showing reduced syncytia formation ability. Superoxide was generated in the high-type subclones, without PMA-mediated differentiation, from the early stage of infection before HIV-1 replication, as well as during undifferentiated, differentiated and retrodifferentiated stages. In contrast, it was only transiently generated at acute phase of HIV-1 replication in low-type subclones. Long-term culture of the low-type subclones decreased the expression of major structural viral protein Gag and also virus production. Thus, the mechanism by which PMA differentiates U937 cells is not the same as that induced by HIV-1 infection. The latter mechanism results in high susceptibility to infection. The HIV-1 phenotypes of finally obtained persistently infected cells were also affected by the cell stages at the time of infection.

Viral activation from latency during retrodifferentiation of U937 cells exposed to phorbol ester followed by infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

To determine the mechanism underlying the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) latency and its activation in monocyte/macrophage lineage, the human promonocytic cell line U937 was infected with HIV-1 after differentiation with varied doses of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Variously differentiated intermediate stages were generated in U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner. When these cells were infected with lymphotropic HIV-1, the kinetics of the production of HIV-1 DNA, the appearance of HIV-1 antigen-positive cells, and viral production in the conditioned media were slower at higher doses of PMA. This different susceptibility to the infection was not due to the rate of HIV-1 adsorption. Viral replication from latency in the differentiated cells was activated in proportion with the retrodifferentiation observed in long-term cultures of the host cells. Thus, our data demonstrate the close correlation between the regulation of HIV-1 replication and the differentiation stage of monocyte/macrophage lineage cells at the time of HIV-1 infection. The retrodifferentiation phenomenon in infected cells seems to be particularly important for understanding the mechanisms for HIV-1 activation from latency.

Chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection stimulates distinct NF-kappa B/rel DNA binding activities in myelomonoblastic cells

The relationship between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and the induction of NF-kappa B binding activity was examined in a myeloid cell model of HIV-1 infection derived from the PLB-985 cell line. Chronic infection of PLB-985 cells led to increased monocyte-specific surface marker expression, increased c-fms gene transcription, and morphological alterations consistent with differentiation along the monocytic pathway. PLB-IIIB cells displayed a constitutive NF-kappa B-like binding activity that was distinct from that induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment of the parental PLB-985 cell line. This unique DNA binding activity consisted of proteins of 70, 90, and 100 kDa with a high degree of binding specificity for the NF-kappa B site within the PRDII domain of beta interferon. In this report, we characterize the nature of these proteins and demonstrate that binding of these proteins is also induced following Sendai paramyxovirus infection. The 70-kDa protein corresponds to the NF-kappa B RelA (p65) subunit, which is activated in response to an acute paramyxovirus infection or a chronic HIV-1 infection. Virus infection does not appear to alter the amount of RelA (p65) or NFKB1 (p50) but rather affects the capacity of I kappa B alpha to sequester RelA (p65), therefore leading to constitutive levels of RelA DNA binding activity and to increased levels of NF-kappa B-dependent gene activity. The virally induced 90- to 100-kDa proteins have a distinct binding specificity for the PRDII domain and an AT-rich sequence but do not cross-react with NF-kappa B subunit-specific antisera directed against NFKB1 (p105 or p50), NFKB2 (p100 or p52), RelA (p65), or c-rel. DNA binding of the 90- to 100-kDa proteins was not inhibited by recombinant I kappa B alpha/MAD-3 and was resistant to tryptic digestion, suggesting that these proteins may not be NF-kappa B related. Transient cotransfection experiments demonstrated that RelA and NFKB1 expression maximally stimulated HIV-1 LTR- and NF-kappa B-dependent reporter genes; differences in NF-kappa B-like binding activity were also reflected in higher constitutive levels of NF-kappa B-regulated gene expression in HIV-1-infected myeloid cells.

Correlation of specific virus-astrocyte interactions and cytopathic effects induced by ts1, a neurovirulent mutant of Moloney murine leukemia virus

ts1 is a highly neuropathogenic and lymphocytopathic mutant of Moloney murine leukemia virus TB (MoMuLV-TB). We previously reported that the primary neuropathogenic determinant of ts1 maps to a single amino acid substitution, Val-25-->Ile, in precursor envelope protein gPr80env. This Val-25-->Ile substitution apparently renders gPr80env inefficient for transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. These findings suggest that the cytopathic effect of ts1 in neural cells might be due to the accumulation of gPr80env in the endoplasmic reticulum. Since endothelial and glial cells are targets of ts1 infection in the central nervous system, we established primary endothelial and astrocyte cultures to investigate the mechanism of cell killing caused by ts1. A continuous cell line, TB, was used as a control. Our results showed that both ts1 and MoMuLV-TB replicated and induced a cytopathic effect in astrocyte cultures, albeit to different degrees; ts1 appeared to be more lethal than MoMuLV-TB. On the other hand, ts1 and MoMuLV-TB infections of endothelial or TB cells were not cytopathic. The cytopathic effect in infected astrocytes correlated with the inefficiency of gPr80env transport and the intracellular accumulation of gPr80env as well as aberrant virus particles.

Expression of the Tat protein of HIV1 in human promonocytic U937 cells

Numerous studies have shown that, upon HIV1 infection, human promonocytic U937 cells were induced to differentiate, as indicated, for example, by increased expression of adhesion molecules. One of the viral proteins involved in this process might be the Tat protein. Indeed, this viral protein, which is essential for productive infection, has also been shown to display growth-stimulating properties and immunomodulatory activities. In order to apprehend the role of the HIV1 tat gene in inducing the differentiation of HIV1-infected U937 cells, we have successfully introduced this gene into U937 cells by infecting them with retroviral particles transducing tat. The effect of the Tat protein constitutively expressed by these cells upon their differentiation was then evaluated by looking for the expression of the c-fos and of the c-fms proto-oncogenes which are linked to the differentiation of myelomonoblastic cells. Northern blot analysis revealed in these cells, an increase in the transcription of these two proto-oncogenes, and this increase was amplified after treatment with phorbol myristate acetate. No such increase was observed in control U937 cells. These results indicate that, among HIV1 gene products, the Tat protein appears to trigger monocytic differentiation, and suggests that this viral protein directs progenitors of the monocyte/macrophage lineage towards a differentiation stage in which production of viral antigens and virions might be more efficient.

Association of mycoplasma with HIV-1 and HTLV-I in human T lymphocytes

Recent findings from a number of investigators suggest associations between mycoplasma and HIV or AIDS. We used a quantitative morphometric technique to analyze electron micrographs of human T lymphocytes that were infected with both mycoplasma and/or HIV-1. We observed that lymphocytes which were associated with HIV-1 were much more likely to be associated with mycoplasma than cells that were not (p < .001). Similarly, cells with associated HTLV-I were more likely to be associated with mycoplasma than cells which were not associated with mycoplasma (p < .0001). In addition, mycoplasma and virus were observed in the same region in 90% of cases. These observations suggest that adherence of mycoplasma to lymphocytes that are chronically infected with human retrovirus may trigger viral release.

Extrachromosomal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 sequences are methylated in latently infected U937 cells

Long-term human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of the human monocytic cell line U937 resulted in a progressive loss of infectivity that was correlated with the accumulation of stable, extrachromosomal forms of viral DNA. Viral latency was also characterized by reduced levels of HIV-1 transcription. The structure and activity of extrachromosomal viral DNA (E-DNA) in a fully latent U937 cell line was investigated by molecular cloning and DNA transfection. The resulting 18-kb E-DNA clone was composed of an intact HIV-1 sequence flanked by 7 kb of host sequence to one side and 1 kb of host DNA to the other side. This configuration is the result of retroviral integration into a highly repetitive element of the Alu family. Transfection of the E-DNA clone resulted in the production of infectious virus, indicating that viral latency was not the result of mutations in the HIV-1 genome. Analysis of CCGG sites revealed extensive de novo methylation of viral sequences present within E-DNA. These results suggest that modification of extrachromosomal viral DNA sequences is a mechanism for HIV-1 latency in long-term infected U937 cells.

Retinoic acid mimics transforming growth factor beta in the regulation of human immunodeficiency virus expression in monocytic cells

Retinoic acid (RA) exerts potent suppressive and upregulatory effects on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) expression in mononuclear phagocytes, strikingly similar to the effects of the cytokine transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). RA significantly inhibited phorbol ester-mediated, but not tumor necrosis factor alpha-mediated, induction of HIV transcription in the chronically infected promonocytic U1 cell line. RA and TGF-beta also completely suppressed the induction of virus production in U1 cells by interleukin 6 alone or in combination with glucocorticoids, which predominantly upregulate virus expression at the posttranscriptional level. Despite the close parallel to TGF-beta-induced effects, no evidence was obtained that RA mediated its effect by inducing secretion of active TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, or -beta 3. As with chronically infected U1 cells, similar inhibitory effects were also observed in primary monocyte-derived macrophages previously infected with HIV and then exposed to either RA or TGF-beta. In contrast, stimulation of monocyte-derived macrophages or U937 cells (the parental cell line of U1) with either RA or TGF-beta prior to in vitro infection resulted in the enhancement of virus production. Given the already successful use of retinoids in the treatment of several malignancies and the present demonstration of their capability of blocking the induction of HIV expression in infected mononuclear phagocytes, it would be of interest to pursue the potential role of this class of compounds in the development of strategies aimed at the pharmacologic regulation of HIV expression.

The effect of cytokines and pharmacologic agents on chronic HIV infection

The ability of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to replicate in CD+ T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes(MP) is strongly influenced by immunoregulatory cytokines. In the T cell system, interleukin-2 (IL-2) provides a mitogenic signal leading to both cell proliferation and virus replication. Among other HIV-inductive cytokines, only tumor necrosis factor-alpha or -beta (TNF-alpha/-beta) have been shown thus far to trigger virus expression both in T cells and MP. The mechanism of action of TNF involves the activation of the cellular transcription factor NF-kB which binds to specific consensus sequences present in the enhancer region of the HIV proviral LTR. In addition, several other cytokines (including colony stimulating factors, IL-1, IL-3, and IL-6) have demonstrated upregulatory effects on HIV production in MP, whereas nonimmune interferons (INF-alpha/-beta) have been shown to suppress HIV replication in T cells and MP by acting at different phases in the virus life cycle. Finally, cytokines such as TGF-beta, IFN-gamma, and IL-4 have demonstrated either upregulatory or suppressive effects on virus expression depending on the experimental conditions. This scenario indicates that HIV expression is under the control of a complex network of immunoregulatory cytokines, in addition to its own endogenous regulatory proteins, suggesting that new pharmacologic strategies may be aimed at either mimicking or interrupting cytokine-dependent virus expression. In this regard, a number of different physiologic and pharmacologic agents capable of interfering with cytokine-mediated events, including glucocorticoids, anti-oxidants, such as N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC), and retinoic acid (RA) have already been shown to profoundly affect HIV replication in vitro.

TNF-α production by U937 promonocytes is enhanced by factors released from HIV-infected T4 lymphocytes: TNF-α is one of the mediators causing lysis of HIV-infected T4 cells

In the present study, we have shown that the addition of culture supernatants from HIV-infected SupT1 cells (T4) but not from noninfected cells markedly increased the production of TNF-alpha by U937 promonocytic cells after stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Pretreatment of supernatants with the antibodies to granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or TNF-alpha, but not interferon-gamma, significantly diminished this enhancing effect. These results suggest that HIV may play an indirect role by producing cytokines from infected T4 cells that can lead to an increased production of TNF-alpha by monocytic cells. Further, TNF-alpha produced by U937 cells following stimulation with PMA plus lipopolysaccharide or with phytohemagglutinin induced lysis of HIV-infected T cells. TNF-alpha-induced cytotoxicity was markedly higher toward HIV-infected than toward noninfected T4 cells. Addition of antibody to TNF-alpha during the cytotoxic phase of response resulted in a reduction of about 50% in the percentage of cytotoxicity, indicating TNF-alpha as one of the lytic mediators.

Differential susceptibilities of U-937 cell clones to infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Single-cell clones derived from the U-937 monocytic cell line were studied for susceptibility to infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Of four such clones, we found that three (UC12, UC14, and UC18) supported replication of HIV-1 more efficiently than parental U-937 cells, as measured by reverse transcriptase activity and p24 core antigen production. In contrast, another clone (UC11) showed only baseline infection throughout an 8-week culture period, before finally becoming positive for expression of viral antigen. This differential susceptibility to infection directly correlated with accumulation of intracellular viral DNA. Furthermore, the UC11 clone expressed lower levels of Sendai virus-inducible tumor necrosis factor alpha mRNA than did the UC12 or UC18 clones. Susceptibility to infection did not correlate with expression of cell surface CD4, since all clones expressed similar levels of CD4 mRNA and surface membrane CD4 protein. Prior exposure of both susceptible UC18 and resistant UC11 clones to Leu3a antibody completely blocked infection by HIV-1, suggesting that no other independent receptors were recognized by the virus.

HIV1 infection of human monocytes and macrophages promotes induction or translocation of NF-KB-related factors

In 1991, we demonstrated, using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, that 3 different factors (termed B1, B2 and B3) with affinity for the KB-enhancer target sequence were specifically detected in nuclear extracts from HIV1-infected monocytes and macrophages. The B2 factor was induced in the nuclei of these cells only upon HIV1 infection. The B3 factor was only slightly evident in nuclei of uninfected cells but was readily detectable in nuclei of infected monocytes. Its expression remained very low in nuclei of HIV1-infected macrophages. In this paper, we demonstrate that the B2 factor is expressed in the cytosol of monocytes and macrophages as a DNA-binding protein, indicating that it is not associated with an inhibitor (IKB). This factor remained clustered in the cytosol and was translocated to the nuclei only after HIV1 infection. The B3 factor is detected in the cytosol only when cells are HIV1-infected. The role of HIV1 infection in the expression and the translocation of these factors is discussed.