1
|
Pawar P, Gokavi J, Wakhare S, Bagul R, Ghule U, Khan I, Ganu V, Mukherjee A, Shete A, Rao A, Saxena V. MiR-155 Negatively Regulates Anti-Viral Innate Responses among HIV-Infected Progressors. Viruses 2023; 15:2206. [PMID: 38005883 PMCID: PMC10675553 DOI: 10.3390/v15112206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV infection impairs host immunity, leading to progressive disease. An anti-retroviral treatment efficiently controls viremia but cannot completely restore the immune dysfunction in HIV-infected individuals. Both host and viral factors determine the rate of disease progression. Among the host factors, innate immunity plays a critical role; however, the mechanism(s) associated with dysfunctional innate responses are poorly understood among HIV disease progressors, which was investigated here. The gene expression profiles of TLRs and innate cytokines in HIV-infected (LTNPs and progressors) and HIV-uninfected individuals were examined. Since the progressors showed a dysregulated TLR-mediated innate response, we investigated the role of TLR agonists in restoring the innate functions of the progressors. The stimulation of PBMCs with TLR3 agonist-poly:(I:C), TLR7 agonist-GS-9620 and TLR9 agonist-ODN 2216 resulted in an increased expression of IFN-α, IFN-β and IL-6. Interestingly, the expression of IFITM3, BST-2, IFITM-3, IFI-16 was also increased upon stimulation with TLR3 and TLR7 agonists, respectively. To further understand the molecular mechanism involved, the role of miR-155 was explored. Increased miR-155 expression was noted among the progressors. MiR-155 inhibition upregulated the expression of TLR3, NF-κB, IRF-3, TNF-α and the APOBEC-3G, IFITM-3, IFI-16 and BST-2 genes in the PBMCs of the progressors. To conclude, miR-155 negatively regulates TLR-mediated cytokines as wel l as the expression of host restriction factors, which play an important role in mounting anti-HIV responses; hence, targeting miR-155 might be helpful in devising strategic approaches towards alleviating HIV disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Puja Pawar
- Division of Immunology and Serology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (P.P.); (J.G.); (S.W.); (V.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Jyotsna Gokavi
- Division of Immunology and Serology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (P.P.); (J.G.); (S.W.); (V.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Shilpa Wakhare
- Division of Immunology and Serology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (P.P.); (J.G.); (S.W.); (V.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Rajani Bagul
- Division of Clinical Sciences, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (R.B.); (U.G.); (A.R.)
| | - Ujjwala Ghule
- Division of Clinical Sciences, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (R.B.); (U.G.); (A.R.)
| | - Ishrat Khan
- Division of Virology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (I.K.); (A.M.)
| | - Varada Ganu
- Division of Immunology and Serology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (P.P.); (J.G.); (S.W.); (V.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Anupam Mukherjee
- Division of Virology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (I.K.); (A.M.)
| | - Ashwini Shete
- Division of Immunology and Serology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (P.P.); (J.G.); (S.W.); (V.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Amrita Rao
- Division of Clinical Sciences, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (R.B.); (U.G.); (A.R.)
| | - Vandana Saxena
- Division of Immunology and Serology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute, Pune 411026, India; (P.P.); (J.G.); (S.W.); (V.G.); (A.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kenaston MW, Shah PS. The Archer and the Prey: The Duality of PAF1C in Antiviral Immunity. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051032. [PMID: 37243120 DOI: 10.3390/v15051032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In the ongoing arms race between virus and host, fine-tuned gene expression plays a critical role in antiviral signaling. However, viruses have evolved to disrupt this process and promote their own replication by targeting host restriction factors. Polymerase-associated factor 1 complex (PAF1C) is a key player in this relationship, recruiting other host factors to regulate transcription and modulate innate immune gene expression. Consequently, PAF1C is consistently targeted by a diverse range of viruses, either to suppress its antiviral functions or co-opt them for their own benefit. In this review, we delve into the current mechanisms through which PAF1C restricts viruses by activating interferon and inflammatory responses at the transcriptional level. We also highlight how the ubiquity of these mechanisms makes PAF1C especially vulnerable to viral hijacking and antagonism. Indeed, as often as PAF1C is revealed to be a restriction factor, viruses are found to have targeted the complex in reply.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Kenaston
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Priya S Shah
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Siegel DA, Thanh C, Wan E, Hoh R, Hobbs K, Pan T, Gibson EA, Kroetz DL, Martin J, Hecht F, Pilcher C, Martin M, Carrington M, Pillai S, Busch MP, Stone M, Levy CN, Huang ML, Roychoudhury P, Hladik F, Jerome KR, Kiem HP, Henrich TJ, Deeks SG, Lee SA. Host variation in type I interferon signaling genes (MX1), C-C chemokine receptor type 5 gene, and major histocompatibility complex class I alleles in treated HIV+ noncontrollers predict viral reservoir size. AIDS 2023; 37:477-488. [PMID: 36695358 PMCID: PMC9894159 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Prior genomewide association studies have identified variation in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alleles and C-C chemokine receptor type 5 gene (CCR5Δ32) as genetic predictors of viral control, especially in 'elite' controllers, individuals who remain virally suppressed in the absence of therapy. DESIGN Cross-sectional genomewide association study. METHODS We analyzed custom whole exome sequencing and direct human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing from 202 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-suppressed HIV+ noncontrollers in relation to four measures of the peripheral CD4+ T-cell reservoir: HIV intact DNA, total (t)DNA, unspliced (us)RNA, and RNA/DNA. Linear mixed models were adjusted for potential covariates including age, sex, nadir CD4+ T-cell count, pre-ART HIV RNA, timing of ART initiation, and duration of ART suppression. RESULTS Previously reported 'protective' host genetic mutations related to viral setpoint (e.g. among elite controllers) were found to predict smaller HIV reservoir size. The HLA 'protective' B∗57:01 was associated with significantly lower HIV usRNA (q = 3.3 × 10-3), and among the largest subgroup, European ancestry individuals, the CCR5Δ32 deletion was associated with smaller HIV tDNA (P = 4.3 × 10-3) and usRNA (P = 8.7 × 10-3). In addition, genomewide analysis identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms in MX1 (an interferon stimulated gene) that were significantly associated with HIV tDNA (q = 0.02), and the direction of these associations paralleled MX1 gene eQTL expression. CONCLUSIONS We observed a significant association between previously reported 'protective' MHC class I alleles and CCR5Δ32 with the HIV reservoir size in noncontrollers. We also found a novel association between MX1 and HIV total DNA (in addition to other interferon signaling relevant genes, PPP1CB, DDX3X). These findings warrant further investigation in future validation studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Siegel
- Department of Medicine, Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
| | | | | | - Rebecca Hoh
- Department of Medicine, Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
| | - Kristen Hobbs
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine
| | - Tony Pan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine
| | | | | | - Jeffrey Martin
- Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, University of California San Francisco, California
| | - Frederick Hecht
- Department of Medicine, Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
| | - Christopher Pilcher
- Department of Medicine, Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
| | - Maureen Martin
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, and Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Mary Carrington
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, and Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Mars Stone
- Vitalant Blood Bank, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Meei-Li Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Pavitra Roychoudhury
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Florian Hladik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Keith R. Jerome
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hans-Peter Kiem
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Steven G. Deeks
- Department of Medicine, Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
| | - Sulggi A. Lee
- Department of Medicine, Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Schynkel T, van Snippenberg W, Van Hecke C, Vandekerckhove L, Trypsteen W. Evaluating lncRNA Expression Patterns during HIV-1 Treatment Interruption. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021031. [PMID: 36674541 PMCID: PMC9866393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lately, the interest in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as potential drug targets and predictive markers in the context of HIV-1 has peaked, but their in vivo expression and regulation remains largely unexplored. Therefore, the present study examined lncRNA expression patterns during a clinical antiretroviral treatment interruption (ATI) trial. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from ten patients at four timepoints: prior to ATI, 7-15 days after stop, at viral rebound and 3 months post antiretroviral therapy re-initiation. RNA was extracted and RT-qPCR on five known HIV-1-related lncRNAs (HEAL, MALAT1, NEAT1, GAS5 and NRON) was performed and correlated with HIV-1 and host marker expression. All lncRNAs correlated stronger with interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) than with HIV-1 reservoir and replication markers. However, one lncRNA, HEAL, showed significant upregulation at viral rebound during ATI compared to baseline and re-initiation of therapy (p = 0.0010 and p = 0.0094, respectively), following a similar viral-load-driven expression pattern to ISGs. In vitro knockdown of HEAL caused a significant reduction in HIV-1 infection levels, validating HEAL's importance for HIV-1 replication. We conclude that the HIV-1-promoting lncRNA HEAL is upregulated at viral rebound during ATI, most likely induced by viral cues.
Collapse
|
5
|
McMahon J, Lewin SR, Rasmussen TA. Viral, inflammatory, and reservoir characteristics of posttreatment controllers. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2021; 16:249-256. [PMID: 34334614 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To provide an overview of studies to date that have identified posttreatment controllers (PTCs) and to explore current evidence around clinical characteristics, immune effector function, and inflammatory and viral reservoir characteristics that may underlie the control mechanism. RECENT FINDINGS PTCs are broadly defined as individuals capable of maintaining control of HIV replication after cessation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). While starting ART early after HIV infection is associated with PTC, genetic disposition or CD8+ T-cell function do not appear to explain this phenomenon, but these features have not been exhaustively analyzed in PTCs. A lower frequency of latently infected cells prior to stopping ART has been associated with achieving PTC, including a lower level of intact HIV DNA, but more studies are needed to map the genetic location, epigenetic characteristics, and tissue distribution of the intact HIV reservoir in PTCs. SUMMARY Current studies are small and heterogeneous and there is a significant need to agree on a uniform definition of PTC. Many aspects of PTC are still unexplored including whether specific features of genetic disposition, immune effector functions, and/or viral reservoir characteristics play a role in PTC. A large multisite international cohort study could aide in providing the important insights needed to fully understand PTC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James McMahon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash Medical Centre
| | - Sharon R Lewin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thomas A Rasmussen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Arhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kojabad AA, Farzanehpour M, Galeh HEG, Dorostkar R, Jafarpour A, Bolandian M, Nodooshan MM. Droplet digital PCR of viral DNA/RNA, current progress, challenges, and future perspectives. J Med Virol 2021; 93:4182-4197. [PMID: 33538349 PMCID: PMC8013307 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput droplet-based digital PCR (ddPCR) is a refinement of the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. In ddPCR, DNA/RNA is encapsulated stochastically inside the microdroplets as reaction chambers. A small percentage of the reaction chamber contains one or fewer copies of the DNA or RNA. After PCR amplification, concentrations are determined based on the proportion of nonfluorescent partitions through the Poisson distribution. Some of the main features of ddPCR include high sensitivity and specificity, absolute quantification without a standard curve, high reproducibility, good tolerance to PCR inhibitor, and high efficacy compared to conventional molecular methods. These advantages make ddPCR a valuable addition to the virologist's toolbox. The following review outlines the recent technological advances in ddPCR methods and their applications in viral identification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amir Asri Kojabad
- Applied Virology Research CenterBaqiyatallah University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Mahdieh Farzanehpour
- Applied Virology Research CenterBaqiyatallah University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | | | - Ruhollah Dorostkar
- Applied Virology Research CenterBaqiyatallah University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Ali Jafarpour
- Research Center for Clinical VirologyTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Masoumeh Bolandian
- Applied Virology Research CenterBaqiyatallah University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
De Scheerder MA, Van Hecke C, Zetterberg H, Fuchs D, De Langhe N, Rutsaert S, Vrancken B, Trypsteen W, Noppe Y, Van Der Gucht B, Pelgrom J, Van Wanzeele F, Palmer S, Lemey P, Gisslén M, Vandekerckhove L. Evaluating predictive markers for viral rebound and safety assessment in blood and lumbar fluid during HIV-1 treatment interruption. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:1311-1320. [PMID: 32053203 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkaa003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Validated biomarkers to evaluate HIV-1 cure strategies are currently lacking, therefore requiring analytical treatment interruption (ATI) in study participants. Little is known about the safety of ATI and its long-term impact on patient health. OBJECTIVES ATI safety was assessed and potential biomarkers predicting viral rebound were evaluated. METHODS PBMCs, plasma and CSF were collected from 11 HIV-1-positive individuals at four different timepoints during ATI (NCT02641756). Total and integrated HIV-1 DNA, cell-associated (CA) HIV-1 RNA transcripts and restriction factor (RF) expression were measured by PCR-based assays. Markers of neuroinflammation and neuronal injury [neurofilament light chain (NFL) and YKL-40 protein] were measured in CSF. Additionally, neopterin, tryptophan and kynurenine were measured, both in plasma and CSF, as markers of immune activation. RESULTS Total HIV-1 DNA, integrated HIV-1 DNA and CA viral RNA transcripts did not differ pre- and post-ATI. Similarly, no significant NFL or YKL-40 increases in CSF were observed between baseline and viral rebound. Furthermore, markers of immune activation did not increase during ATI. Interestingly, the RFs SLFN11 and APOBEC3G increased after ATI before viral rebound. Similarly, Tat-Rev transcripts were increased preceding viral rebound after interruption. CONCLUSIONS ATI did not increase viral reservoir size and it did not reveal signs of increased neuronal injury or inflammation, suggesting that these well-monitored ATIs are safe. Elevation of Tat-Rev transcription and induced expression of the RFs SLFN11 and APOBEC3G after ATI, prior to viral rebound, indicates that these factors could be used as potential biomarkers predicting viral rebound.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Angélique De Scheerder
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.,Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Clarissa Van Hecke
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
| | - Dietmar Fuchs
- Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, Christoph-Probst-Platz, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nele De Langhe
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sofie Rutsaert
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bram Vrancken
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Evolutionary and Computational Virology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wim Trypsteen
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ytse Noppe
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bea Van Der Gucht
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jolanda Pelgrom
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Filip Van Wanzeele
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Palmer
- Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, 176 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, New South Wales 2145, Australia
| | - Philippe Lemey
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Evolutionary and Computational Virology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Magnus Gisslén
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Wallinsgatan 6, Mölndal, Sweden.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 11 Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Linos Vandekerckhove
- HIV Cure Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.,Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
Quantification of cell associated HIV RNA (ca-RNA) is one of the most important and commonly used methods to evaluate the performance of latency-reversing agents (LRAs). Copies of HIV RNA measured by qPCR, are often normalized to the input RNA or cell number. However, these could be affected by biological variability and/or technical errors, which can be avoided by using an internal reference gene. To obtain reliable data, it is essential to select stable reference genes (RGs) of which the expression is not influenced by biological variability, the type of cells, or the LRAs used. However, to date, no study has carefully evaluated RG stability following LRA exposure. We analyzed the stability of six widely used RGs (GAPDH, TBP, YWHAZ, UBE2D2, HPRT1 and RPL27A) in human PBMC and CD4+ T cells. LRA exposure significantly influenced the stability of these RGs. Overall, TBP, UBE2D2, and RPL27A were the most stable RGs in all tested conditions. TBP was generally the most stable RG whereas GAPDH varied the most. Finally, we evaluated the impact of applying different RG normalizers to host genes and HIV ca-RNA data. Altered results were observed both in host and HIV gene expression when unstable RGs were used. Our data underline the importance of testing the stability of RGs utilized to evaluate LRA-induced HIV ca-RNA expression. To our knowledge, this is the first careful evaluation of the stability of RGs after LRA exposure and will significantly contribute to the quality of data analysis in regard to gene expression.IMPORTANCELatency-reversing agents (LRAs) are ubiquitously used in the "shock-and-kill" HIV cure strategy and their performance is often evaluated by ex-vivo quantification of cell associated HIV RNA. HIV RNA, measured by qPCR, is often normalized to internal reference genes, but the expression of these genes should not be influenced by the experimental settings. We found that treatment of human PBMC and CD4+ T cells with LRAs significantly altered the expression of several commonly used reference genes, such as GAPDH. Finally, we evaluate the impact of different reference genes on normalization of host genes and HIV cell associated RNA expression and demonstrated that using unstable reference genes dramatically altered experimental outcome. Our data highlight the importance of using reference genes that are unaffected by LRAs under study to correctly evaluate host gene and cell associated HIV RNA expression induced by latency-reversing agents.
Collapse
|
9
|
Increased expression of CDKN1A/p21 in HIV-1 controllers is correlated with upregulation of ZC3H12A/MCPIP1. Retrovirology 2020; 17:18. [PMID: 32615986 PMCID: PMC7333275 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-020-00522-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Some multifunctional cellular proteins, as the monocyte chemotactic protein-induced protein 1 (ZC3H12A/MCPIP1) and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor CDKN1A/p21, are able to modulate the cellular susceptibility to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Several studies showed that CDKN1A/p21 is expressed at high levels ex vivo in cells from individuals who naturally control HIV-1 replication (HIC) and a recent study supports a coordinate regulation of ZC3H12A/MCPIP1 and CDKN1A/p21 transcripts in a model of renal carcinoma cells. Here, we explored the potential associations between mRNA expression of ZC3H12A/MCPIP1 and CDKN1A/p21 in HIC sustaining undetectable (elite controllers–EC) or low (viremic controllers–VC) viral loads. Results We found a selective upregulation of ZC3H12A/MCPIP1 and CDKN1A/p21 mRNA levels in PBMC from HIC compared with both ART–suppressed and HIV–negative control groups (P≤ 0.02) and higher MCPIP1 and p21 proteins levels in HIC than in HIV-1 negative subjects. There was a moderate positive correlation (r ≥ 0.57; P ≤ 0.014) between expressions of both transcripts in HIC and in HIC combined with control groups. We found positive correlations between the mRNA level of CDKN1A/p21 with activated CD4+ T cells levels in HIC (r ≥ 0.53; P ≤ 0.017) and between the mRNA levels of both CDKN1A/p21 (r = 0.74; P = 0.005) and ZC3H12A/MCPIP1 (r = 0.58; P = 0.040) with plasmatic levels of sCD14 in EC. Reanalysis of published transcriptomic data confirmed the positive association between ZC3H12A/MCPIP1 and CDKN1A/p21 mRNA levels in CD4+ T cells and monocytes from disparate cohorts of HIC and other HIV-positive control groups. Conclusions These data show for the first time the simultaneous upregulation of ZC3H12A/MCPIP1 and CDKN1A/p21 transcripts in the setting of natural suppression of HIV-1 replication in vivo and the positive correlation of the expression of these cellular factors in disparate cohorts of HIV-positive individuals. The existence of a common regulatory pathway connecting ZC3H12A/MCPIP1 and CDKN1A/p21 could have a synergistic effect on HIV-1 replication control and pharmacological manipulation of these multifunctional host factors may open novel therapeutic perspectives to prevent HIV-1 replication and disease progression.
Collapse
|