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Vanegas-Torres CA, Schindler M. HIV-1 Vpr Functions in Primary CD4 + T Cells. Viruses 2024; 16:420. [PMID: 38543785 PMCID: PMC10975730 DOI: 10.3390/v16030420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 encodes four accesory proteins in addition to its structural and regulatory genes. Uniquely amongst them, Vpr is abundantly present within virions, meaning it is poised to exert various biological effects on the host cell upon delivery. In this way, Vpr contributes towards the establishment of a successful infection, as evidenced by the extent to which HIV-1 depends on this factor to achieve full pathogenicity in vivo. Although HIV infects various cell types in the host organism, CD4+ T cells are preferentially targeted since they are highly permissive towards productive infection, concomitantly bringing about the hallmark immune dysfunction that accompanies HIV-1 spread. The last several decades have seen unprecedented progress in unraveling the activities Vpr possesses in the host cell at the molecular scale, increasingly underscoring the importance of this viral component. Nevertheless, it remains controversial whether some of these advances bear in vivo relevance, since commonly employed cellular models significantly differ from primary T lymphocytes. One prominent example is the "established" ability of Vpr to induce G2 cell cycle arrest, with enigmatic physiological relevance in infected primary T lymphocytes. The objective of this review is to present these discoveries in their biological context to illustrate the mechanisms whereby Vpr supports HIV-1 infection in CD4+ T cells, whilst identifying findings that require validation in physiologically relevant models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Schindler
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany;
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Role of Apoptosis in HIV Pathogenesis. Adv Virol 2022; 2022:8148119. [PMID: 35462964 PMCID: PMC9023228 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8148119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The apoptotic pathway is an important cell death pathway that contributes to the maintenance of homeostasis in living systems. However, variations in apoptosis have been linked to many diseases such as cancers and chronic infections. The HIV infection has contributed to increase mortality and morbidity worldwide, predominantly through the induction of gradual depletion of CD4+ T cells. The induction and mediation of both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways are crucial in HIV pathogenesis and intracellular survival. Consequently, a deep molecular understanding of how apoptosis is induced and modulated in HIV-mediated CD4+ T cell depletion is paramount, as this can lead to new portals of therapeutic intervention and control.
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Molenberghs F, Bogers JJ, De Vos WH. Confined no more: Viral mechanisms of nuclear entry and egress. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2020; 129:105875. [PMID: 33157236 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2020.105875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Viruses are obligatory intracellular parasites. For their efficient replication, many require access to the nuclear interior. Yet, only few viral particles are small enough to passively diffuse through the nuclear pore complexes, calling for alternative strategies to bypass the nuclear envelope barrier. Some viruses will await mitotic nuclear envelope breakdown to gain access, whereas others will exploit more active means, for instance by hijacking nuclear pore transport or by directly targeting constituents of the nuclear envelope so as to remodel and temporarily perturb its integrity. After replication, newly produced viral DNA complexes need to cross the same barrier to exit the nucleus and enter the cytoplasm, where the final stages of virion maturation take place. There are also different flavours to the feat of nuclear egress that vary in delicacy and intensity. In this review, we define the major entry and egress strategies that are exploited by different viruses and describe the molecular details thereof. Ultimately, a deeper understanding of these pathways may help identifying molecular targets for blocking viral reproduction or spreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freya Molenberghs
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences/Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johannes J Bogers
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences/Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Winnok H De Vos
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences/Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
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Paim AC, Badley AD, Cummins NW. Mechanisms of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Lymphocyte Regulated Cell Death. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2020; 36:101-115. [PMID: 31659912 PMCID: PMC7044792 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2019.0213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) causes CD4 T cell depletion through a number of mechanisms, including programmed cell death pathways (both apoptotic and nonapoptotic). In the setting of HIV-1 infection, the enhanced lymphocyte cell death occurs as a consequence of complex interactions between the host immune system and viral factors, which are reviewed herein. On the other hand, the main challenge to HIV-1 eradication is the development of latent infection in a subset of long lived cells, including CD4+ T cells and macrophages, which resist HIV-induced cell death. Understanding the potential mechanisms of how HIV-1 induces lymphocyte cell death is critical to the "kick and kill" cure strategy, which relies on the effective killing of reactivated, HIV-1-infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Paim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Andrew D. Badley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Soares R, Rocha G, Meliço-Silvestre A, Gonçalves T. HIV1-viral protein R (Vpr) mutations: associated phenotypes and relevance for clinical pathologies. Rev Med Virol 2016; 26:314-29. [DOI: 10.1002/rmv.1889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Soares
- FMUC-Faculdade de Medicina; Universidade de Coimbra; Coimbra Portugal
- CNC-Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular; Universidade de Coimbra; Coimbra Portugal
- IPO-Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil; Coimbra Portugal
| | - Graça Rocha
- FMUC-Faculdade de Medicina; Universidade de Coimbra; Coimbra Portugal
- Departamento de Doenças Infeciosas Hospital Pediátrico de Coimbra; CHUC-Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra; Coimbra Portugal
| | - António Meliço-Silvestre
- FMUC-Faculdade de Medicina; Universidade de Coimbra; Coimbra Portugal
- Departamento de Doenças Infeciosas; CHUC - Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra; Coimbra Portugal
| | - Teresa Gonçalves
- FMUC-Faculdade de Medicina; Universidade de Coimbra; Coimbra Portugal
- CNC-Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular; Universidade de Coimbra; Coimbra Portugal
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Soares R, Rocha G, Nogueira C, Meliço-Silvestre A, Gonçalves T. R77Q and Q3R HIV1-VPR mutations in an otherwise asymptomatic 5-year-old child with repeated ear infections. JMM Case Rep 2014; 1:e002709. [PMID: 28663807 PMCID: PMC5415930 DOI: 10.1099/jmmcr.0.002709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Viral protein R (Vpr) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been described as being involved in the progression of AIDS, and specific mutations are associated with long-term non-progressor patients. CASE PRESENTATION We describe the case of a child with repeated ear infections who was otherwise healthy. The patient, a 5-year-old boy, was HIV-1 positive and the viral load at admission was 1 073 899 RNA copies ml-1 and 0 % CD4+ lymphocytes. A detailed study of the vpr gene sequence of the child revealed mutations leading to amino acid substitutions at positions 3 and 77. CONCLUSION The case reported provides clinical support of previous findings that show that the R77Q and Q3R HIV-1 Vpr variants are associated with patients with delayed disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Soares
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Graça Rocha
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Hospital Pediátrico de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Célia Nogueira
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António Meliço-Silvestre
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Teresa Gonçalves
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Guenzel CA, Hérate C, Benichou S. HIV-1 Vpr-a still "enigmatic multitasker". Front Microbiol 2014; 5:127. [PMID: 24744753 PMCID: PMC3978352 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Like other HIV-1 auxiliary proteins, Vpr is conserved within all the human (HIV-1, HIV-2) and simian (SIV) immunodeficiency viruses. However, Vpr and homologous HIV-2, and SIV Vpx are the only viral auxiliary proteins specifically incorporated into virus particles through direct interaction with the Gag precursor, indicating that this presence in the core of the mature virions is mainly required for optimal establishment of the early steps of the virus life cycle in the newly infected cell. In spite of its small size, a plethora of effects and functions have been attributed to Vpr, including induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, modulation of the fidelity of reverse transcription, nuclear import of viral DNA in macrophages and other non-dividing cells, and transcriptional modulation of viral and host cell genes. Even if some more recent studies identified a few cellular targets that HIV-1 Vpr may utilize in order to perform its different tasks, the real role and functions of Vpr during the course of natural infection are still enigmatic. In this review, we will summarize the main reported functions of HIV-1 Vpr and their significance in the context of the viral life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin A Guenzel
- Cochin Institute, INSERM U1016, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8104, Université Paris-Descartes Paris, France
| | - Cécile Hérate
- Cochin Institute, INSERM U1016, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8104, Université Paris-Descartes Paris, France
| | - Serge Benichou
- Cochin Institute, INSERM U1016, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8104, Université Paris-Descartes Paris, France
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Lata S, Ronsard L, Sood V, Dar SA, Ramachandran VG, Das S, Banerjea AC. Effect on HIV-1 gene expression, Tat-Vpr interaction and cell apoptosis by natural variants of HIV-1 Tat exon 1 and Vpr from Northern India. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82128. [PMID: 24367500 PMCID: PMC3868622 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since HIV-1 Tat and Vpr genes are involved in promoter transactivation, apoptosis, etc, we carried out studies to find out nature and extent of natural variation in the two genes from seropositive patients from Northern India and determined their functional implications. METHODS HIV-1 tat exon 1 and vpr were amplified from the genomic DNA isolated from the blood of HIV-1 infected individuals using specific primers by Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) and subjected to extensive genetic analysis (CLUSTAL W, Simplot etc). Their expression was monitored by generating myc fusion clones. Tat exon 1 and Vpr variants were co-transfected with the reporter gene construct (LTR-luc) and their transactivation potential was monitored by measuring luciferase activity. Apoptosis and cell cycle analysis was done by Propidium Iodide (PI) staining followed by FACS. RESULTS Exon 1 of tat was amplified from 21 samples and vpr was amplified from 16 samples. One of the Tat exon 1 variants showed phylogenetic relatedness to subtype B & C and turned out to be a unique recombinant. Two of the Vpr variants were B/C/D recombinants. These natural variations were found to have no impact on the stability of Tat and Vpr. These variants differed in their ability to transactivate B LTR and C LTR promoters. B/C recombinant Tat showed better co-operative interaction with Vpr. B/C/D recombination in Vpr was found to have no effect on its co-operativity with Tat. Recombinant Tat (B/C) induced more apoptosis than wild type B and C Tat. The B/C/D recombination in Vpr did not affect its G2 arrest induction potential but reduced its apoptosis induction ability. CONCLUSIONS Extensive sequence and region-specific variations were observed in Tat and Vpr genes from HIV-1 infected individuals from Northern India. These variations have functional implications & therefore important for the pathogenicity of virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneh Lata
- Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India
| | - Larance Ronsard
- Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Vikas Sood
- Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Sajad A. Dar
- Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India
| | - Vishnampettai G. Ramachandran
- Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India
- * E-mail: (VGR); (ACB)
| | - Shukla Das
- Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India
| | - Akhil C. Banerjea
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
- * E-mail: (VGR); (ACB)
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Richard J, Pham TNQ, Ishizaka Y, Cohen EA. Viral protein R upregulates expression of ULBP2 on uninfected bystander cells during HIV-1 infection of primary CD4+ T lymphocytes. Virology 2013; 443:248-56. [PMID: 23726848 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2013.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2013] [Revised: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
HIV-1 Vpr triggers NK cell-mediated lysis of infected cells by upregulating ULBP2, a ligand of the NKG2D receptor, through activation of the ATR-mediated DNA damage response. Herein, we demonstrate that Vpr augments ULBP2 expression on both infected and uninfected bystander cells during HIV-1 infection of primary CD4+ T lymphocytes. Indeed, the frequency of uninfected bystander cells expressing high levels of ULBP2 was elevated in a Vpr-dependent manner. Nevertheless, the same does not hold true for a Vpr mutant that is not packaged into virions, suggesting the involvement of virion-associated Vpr in this process. Additionally, we show that soluble Vpr has the ability to induce a DNA damage response and to augment cell-surface ULBP2 upon transducing target cells, including T cells, conditions known to promote NK cell-mediated killing. Overall, these findings suggest that Vpr could contribute to CD4+ T cell loss by rendering uninfected bystander cells susceptible to NK cell-mediated killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Richard
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
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