1
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Duggan NN, Dragic T, Chanda SK, Pache L. Breaking the Silence: Regulation of HIV Transcription and Latency on the Road to a Cure. Viruses 2023; 15:2435. [PMID: 38140676 PMCID: PMC10747579 DOI: 10.3390/v15122435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has brought the HIV/AIDS epidemic under control, but a curative strategy for viral eradication is still needed. The cessation of ART results in rapid viral rebound from latently infected CD4+ T cells, showing that control of viral replication alone does not fully restore immune function, nor does it eradicate viral reservoirs. With a better understanding of factors and mechanisms that promote viral latency, current approaches are primarily focused on the permanent silencing of latently infected cells ("block and lock") or reactivating HIV-1 gene expression in latently infected cells, in combination with immune restoration strategies to eliminate HIV infected cells from the host ("shock and kill"). In this review, we provide a summary of the current, most promising approaches for HIV-1 cure strategies, including an analysis of both latency-promoting agents (LPA) and latency-reversing agents (LRA) that have shown promise in vitro, ex vivo, and in human clinical trials to reduce the HIV-1 reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha N. Duggan
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Tatjana Dragic
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sumit K. Chanda
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lars Pache
- NCI Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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2
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Xue J, Zhou D, Zhou J, Du X, Zhang X, Liu X, Ding L, Cheng Z. miR-155 facilitates the synergistic replication between avian leukosis virus subgroup J and reticuloendotheliosis virus by targeting a dual pathway. J Virol 2023; 97:e0093723. [PMID: 37909729 PMCID: PMC10688374 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00937-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The synergy of two oncogenic retroviruses is an essential phenomenon in nature. The synergistic replication of ALV-J and REV in poultry flocks increases immunosuppression and pathogenicity, extends the tumor spectrum, and accelerates viral evolution, causing substantial economic losses to the poultry industry. However, the mechanism of synergistic replication between ALV-J and REV is still incompletely elusive. We observed that microRNA-155 targets a dual pathway, PRKCI-MAPK8 and TIMP3-MMP2, interacting with the U3 region of ALV-J and REV, enabling synergistic replication. This work gives us new targets to modulate ALV-J and REV's synergistic replication, guiding future research on the mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Xue
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong, China
- College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Defang Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong, China
| | - Xusheng Du
- College of Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoyang Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong, China
| | - Longying Ding
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong, China
| | - Ziqiang Cheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong, China
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3
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Bowden-Reid E, Ledger S, Zhang Y, Di Giallonardo F, Aggarwal A, Stella AO, Akerman A, Milogiannakis V, Walker G, Rawlinson W, Turville S, Kelleher AD, Ahlenstiel C. Novel siRNA therapeutics demonstrate multi-variant efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. Antiviral Res 2023; 217:105677. [PMID: 37478918 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a respiratory virus that causes COVID-19 disease, with an estimated global mortality of approximately 2%. While global response strategies, which are predominantly reliant on regular vaccinations, have shifted from zero COVID to living with COVID, there is a distinct lack of broad-spectrum direct acting antiviral therapies that maintain efficacy across evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. This is of most concern for immunocompromised and immunosuppressed individuals who lack robust immune responses following vaccination, and others at risk for severe COVID and long-COVID. RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics induced by short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) offer a promising antiviral treatment option, with broad-spectrum antiviral capabilities unparalleled by current antiviral therapeutics and a high genetic barrier to antiviral escape. Here we describe novel siRNAs, targeting highly conserved regions of the SARS-CoV-1 and 2 genome of both human and animal species, with multi-variant antiviral potency against eight SARS-CoV-2 lineages - Ancestral VIC01, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Zeta, Kappa and Omicron. Treatment with our siRNA resulted in significant protection against virus-mediated cell death in vitro, with >97% cell survival (P < 0.0001), and corresponding reductions of viral nucleocapsid RNA of up to 99.9% (P < 0.0001). When compared to antivirals; Sotrovimab and Remdesivir, the siRNAs demonstrated a more potent antiviral effect and similarly, when multiplexing siRNAs to target different viral regions simultaneously, an increased antiviral effect was observed compared to individual siRNA treatments (P < 0.0001). These results demonstrate the potential for a highly effective broad-spectrum direct acting antiviral against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants, including variants resistant to antivirals and vaccine generated neutralizing antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott Ledger
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Gregory Walker
- New South Wales Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - William Rawlinson
- New South Wales Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Virology Research Laboratory, Serology and Virology Division (SAViD), Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart Turville
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anthony D Kelleher
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Chantelle Ahlenstiel
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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4
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Czuba-Wojnilowicz E, Klemm V, Cortez-Jugo C, Turville S, Aggarwal A, Caruso F, Kelleher AD, Ahlenstiel CL. Layer-by-Layer Particles Deliver Epigenetic Silencing siRNA to HIV-1 Latent Reservoir Cell Types. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:2039-2052. [PMID: 36848493 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c01030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
For over two decades, nanomaterials have been employed to facilitate intracellular delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA), both in vitro and in vivo, to induce post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) via RNA interference. Besides PTGS, siRNAs are also capable of transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) or epigenetic silencing, which targets the gene promoter in the nucleus and prevents transcription via repressive epigenetic modifications. However, silencing efficiency is hampered by poor intracellular and nuclear delivery. Here, polyarginine-terminated multilayered particles are reported as a versatile system for the delivery of TGS-inducing siRNA to potently suppress virus transcription in HIV-infected cells. siRNA is complexed with multilayered particles formed by layer-by-layer assembly of poly(styrenesulfonate) and poly(arginine) and incubated with HIV-infected cell types, including primary cells. Using deconvolution microscopy, uptake of fluorescently labeled siRNA is observed in the nuclei of HIV-1 infected cells. Viral RNA and protein are measured to confirm functional virus silencing from siRNA delivered using particles 16 days post-treatment. This work extends conventional particle-enabled PTGS siRNA delivery to the TGS pathway and paves the way for future studies on particle-delivered siRNA for efficient TGS of various diseases and infections, including HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Czuba-Wojnilowicz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Vera Klemm
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Christina Cortez-Jugo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Stuart Turville
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Anupriya Aggarwal
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Frank Caruso
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Anthony D Kelleher
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.,UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Chantelle L Ahlenstiel
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.,UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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5
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Ismail SD, Pankrac J, Ndashimye E, Prodger JL, Abrahams MR, Mann JFS, Redd AD, Arts EJ. Addressing an HIV cure in LMIC. Retrovirology 2021; 18:21. [PMID: 34344423 PMCID: PMC8330180 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-021-00565-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 persists in infected individuals despite years of antiretroviral therapy (ART), due to the formation of a stable and long-lived latent viral reservoir. Early ART can reduce the latent reservoir and is associated with post-treatment control in people living with HIV (PLWH). However, even in post-treatment controllers, ART cessation after a period of time inevitably results in rebound of plasma viraemia, thus lifelong treatment for viral suppression is indicated. Due to the difficulties of sustained life-long treatment in the millions of PLWH worldwide, a cure is undeniably necessary. This requires an in-depth understanding of reservoir formation and dynamics. Differences exist in treatment guidelines and accessibility to treatment as well as social stigma between low- and-middle income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries. In addition, demographic differences exist in PLWH from different geographical regions such as infecting viral subtype and host genetics, which can contribute to differences in the viral reservoir between different populations. Here, we review topics relevant to HIV-1 cure research in LMICs, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa, the region of the world bearing the greatest burden of HIV-1. We present a summary of ART in LMICs, highlighting challenges that may be experienced in implementing a HIV-1 cure therapeutic. Furthermore, we discuss current research on the HIV-1 latent reservoir in different populations, highlighting research in LMIC and gaps in the research that may facilitate a global cure. Finally, we discuss current experimental cure strategies in the context of their potential application in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherazaan D Ismail
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Joshua Pankrac
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Ndashimye
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
- Center for AIDS Research Uganda Laboratories, Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jessica L Prodger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Melissa-Rose Abrahams
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Jamie F S Mann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DU, UK
| | - Andrew D Redd
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eric J Arts
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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6
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Kelleher AD, Cortez-Jugo C, Cavalieri F, Qu Y, Glanville AR, Caruso F, Symonds G, Ahlenstiel CL. RNAi therapeutics: an antiviral strategy for human infections. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2020; 54:121-129. [PMID: 33171339 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Gene silencing induced by RNAi represents a promising antiviral development strategy. This review will summarise the current state of RNAi therapeutics for treating acute and chronic human virus infections. The gene silencing pathways exploited by RNAi therapeutics will be described and include both classic RNAi, inducing cytoplasmic mRNA degradation post-transcription and novel RNAi, mediating epigenetic modifications at the transcription level in the nucleus. Finally, the challenge of delivering gene modifications via RNAi will be discussed, along with the unique characteristics of respiratory versus systemic administration routes to highlight recent advances and future potential of RNAi antiviral treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christina Cortez-Jugo
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology and the Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Yijiao Qu
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology and the Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Frank Caruso
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology and the Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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7
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Ahlenstiel CL, Symonds G, Kent SJ, Kelleher AD. Block and Lock HIV Cure Strategies to Control the Latent Reservoir. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:424. [PMID: 32923412 PMCID: PMC7457024 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The HIV latent reservoir represents the major challenge to cure development. Residing in resting CD4+ T cells and myeloid cells at multiple locations in the body, including sanctuary sites such as the brain, the latent reservoir is not eliminated by ART and has the ability to reactivate virus replication to pre-therapy levels when ART is ceased. There are four broad areas of HIV cure research. The only successful cure strategy, thus far, is stem cell transplantation using naturally HIV resistant CCR5Δ32 stem cells. A second potential cure approach uses gene editing technology, such as zinc-finger nucleases and CRISPR/Cas9. Another two cure strategies aim to control the HIV reservoir, with polar opposite concepts; The "shock and kill" approach, which aims to "shock" or reactivate the latent virus and then "kill" infected cells via targeted immune responses. Lastly, the "block and lock" approach, which aims to enhance the latent virus state by "blocking" HIV transcription and "locking" the HIV promoter in a deep latent state via epigenetic modifications. "Shock and kill" approaches are a major focus of cure studies, however we predict that the increased specificity of "block and lock" approaches will be required for the successful development of a sustained HIV clinical remission in the absence of ART. This review focuses on the current research of novel "block and lock" approaches being explored to generate an HIV cure via induction of epigenetic silencing. We will also discuss potential future therapeutic delivery and the challenges associated with progressing "block and lock" cure approaches as these move toward clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephen J Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,ARC Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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8
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Cortés-Rubio CN, Salgado-Montes de Oca G, Prado-Galbarro FJ, Matías-Florentino M, Murakami-Ogasawara A, Kuri-Cervantes L, Carranco-Arenas AP, Ormsby CE, Cortés-Rubio IK, Reyes-Terán G, Ávila-Ríos S. Longitudinal variation in human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat methylation in individuals on suppressive antiretroviral therapy. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:134. [PMID: 31519219 PMCID: PMC6743183 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0735-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistence of latent, replication-competent provirus in CD4+ T cells of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals on antiretroviral treatment (ART) is the main obstacle for virus eradication. Methylation of the proviral 5' long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter region has been proposed as a possible mechanism contributing to HIV latency; however, conflicting observations exist regarding its relevance. We assessed 5'-LTR methylation profiles in total CD4+ T cells from blood of 12 participants on short-term ART (30 months) followed up for 2 years, and a cross-sectional group of participants with long-term ART (6-15 years), using next generation sequencing. We then looked for associations between specific 5'-LTR methylation patterns and baseline and follow-up clinical characteristics. RESULTS 5'-LTR methylation was observed in all participants and behaved dynamically. The number of 5'-LTR variants found per sample ranged from 1 to 13, with median sequencing depth of 16270× (IQR 4107×-46760×). An overall significant 5'-LTR methylation increase was observed at month 42 compared to month 30 (median CpG Methylation Index: 74.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.025). This methylation increase was evident in a subset of participants (methylation increase group), while the rest maintained fairly high and constant methylation (constant methylation group). Persons in the methylation increase group were younger, had higher CD4+ T cell gain, larger CD8% decrease, and larger CD4/CD8 ratio change after 48 months on ART (all p < 0.001). Using principal component analysis, the constant methylation and methylation increase groups showed low evidence of separation along time (factor 2: p = 0.04). Variance was largely explained (21%) by age, CD4+/CD8+ T cell change, and CD4+ T cell subpopulation proportions. Persons with long-term ART showed overall high methylation (median CpG Methylation Index: 78%; IQR 71-87%). No differences were observed in residual plasma viral load or proviral load comparing individuals on short-term (both at 30 or 42 months) and long-term ART. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows evidence that HIV 5'-LTR methylation in total CD4+ T cells is dynamic along time and that it can follow different temporal patterns that are associated with a combination of baseline and follow-up clinical characteristics. These observations may account for differences observed between previous contrasting studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- César N. Cortés-Rubio
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tlalpan 4502, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo Salgado-Montes de Oca
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tlalpan 4502, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Margarita Matías-Florentino
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tlalpan 4502, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Akio Murakami-Ogasawara
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tlalpan 4502, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Leticia Kuri-Cervantes
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Ana P. Carranco-Arenas
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tlalpan 4502, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Christopher E. Ormsby
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tlalpan 4502, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Gustavo Reyes-Terán
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tlalpan 4502, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Santiago Ávila-Ríos
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Tlalpan 4502, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
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9
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Tsukamoto T. HIV Impacts CD34 + Progenitors Involved in T-Cell Differentiation During Coculture With Mouse Stromal OP9-DL1 Cells. Front Immunol 2019; 10:81. [PMID: 30761146 PMCID: PMC6361802 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 causes the loss of CD4+ T cells via depletion or impairment of their production. The latter involves infection of thymocytes, but the involvement of hematopoietic CD34+ cells remains unclear even though HIV-positive patients frequently manifest myelosuppression. In order to have a closer look at the impact of HIV-1 on T-lineage differentiation, this study utilized the OP9-DL1 coculture system, which supports in vitro T-lineage differentiation of human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. In the newly developed in vitro OP9-DL1/HIV-1 model, cord-derived CD34+ cells were infected with CXCR4-tropic HIV-1NL4−3 and cocultured. The HIV-infected cocultures exhibited reduced CD4+ T-cell growth at weeks 3–5 post infection compared to autologous uninfected cocultures. Further assays and analyses revealed that CD34+CD7+CXCR4+ cells can be quickly depleted as early as 1 week after infection of the subset, and this was accompanied by the emergence of rare CD34+CD7+CD4+ cells. A subsequent theoretical model analysis suggested potential influence of HIV-1 on the differentiation rate or death rate of lymphoid progenitor cells. These results indicate that CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 strains may impact the dynamics of CD34+CD7+ lymphoid progenitor cell pools, presumably leading to impaired T-cell production potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Tsukamoto
- The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan
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10
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Bensussen A, Torres-Sosa C, Gonzalez RA, Díaz J. Dynamics of the Gene Regulatory Network of HIV-1 and the Role of Viral Non-coding RNAs on Latency Reversion. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1364. [PMID: 30323768 PMCID: PMC6172855 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of latency reversing agents (LRAs) is currently a promising approach to eliminate latent reservoirs of HIV-1. However, this strategy has not been successful in vivo. It has been proposed that cellular post-transcriptional mechanisms are implicated in the underperformance of LRAs, but it is not clear whether proviral regulatory elements like viral non-coding RNAs (vncRNAs) are also implicated. In order to visualize the complexity of the HIV-1 gene expression, we used experimental data to construct a gene regulatory network (GRN) of latent proviruses in resting CD4+ T cells. We then analyzed the dynamics of this GRN using Boolean and continuous mathematical models. Our simulations predict that vncRNAs are able to counteract the activity of LRAs, which may explain the failure of these compounds to reactivate latent reservoirs of HIV-1. Moreover, our results also predict that using inhibitors of histone methyltransferases, such as chaetocin, together with releasers of the positive transcription elongation factor (P-TEFb), like JQ1, may increase proviral reactivation despite self-repressive effects of vncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Bensussen
- Laboratory of Gene Networks Dynamics, Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Christian Torres-Sosa
- Laboratory of Gene Networks Dynamics, Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico.,Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico.,Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Ramón A Gonzalez
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - José Díaz
- Laboratory of Gene Networks Dynamics, Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
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11
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Ma S, Sun J, Guo Y, Zhang P, Liu Y, Zheng D, Shi J. Combination of AAV-TRAIL with miR-221-Zip Therapeutic Strategy Overcomes the Resistance to TRAIL Induced Apoptosis in Liver Cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:3228-3242. [PMID: 28900506 PMCID: PMC5595128 DOI: 10.7150/thno.19893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) possesses the capacity to induce apoptosis in a wide variety of tumor cells without affecting most normal cells. However, it has now emerged that many primary cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL monotherapy. Overcoming the intrinsic or acquired TRAIL resistance is desirable for TRAIL-mediated cancer therapy. In this study, we found that the miR-221/222 cluster was up-regulated in TRAIL-resistant liver cancer cells. Specific inhibitors of miR-221 and/or miR-222, called sponge, TuD and miR-Zip were constructed, and their ability to overcome TRAIL resistance was compared. Among them, AAV-mediated gene therapy using co-expression of TRAIL with miR-221-Zip showed the most synergistic activity in the induction of apoptosis in vitro. In vivo treatment of nude mice bearing human TRAIL-resistant liver cancer xenografts with AAV-TRAIL-miR-221-Zip also led to growth inhibition. This sensitizing effect of miR-221-Zip was associated with increased expression of PTEN, the miR-221 target, as well as with decreasing levels of Survivin. Moreover, miR-221 expression was concomitant with promotion of Survivin expression and suppression of PTEN expression. TRAIL sensitivity of cancer cells isolated from liver cancer tissues or from patients was significantly correlated with miR-221 expression. And miR-221 blood expression levels in liver cancer patients were correlated with TRAIL sensitivity, thus it had the potential to be a predictor of TRAIL sensitivity in liver cancer. These data suggested the potential of combining AAV-TRAIL with miR-221-Zip as a therapeutic intervention for liver cancer.
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12
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Zhang J, Crumpacker CS. Toward a Cure: Does Host Immunity Play a Role? mSphere 2017; 2:e00138-17. [PMID: 28497113 PMCID: PMC5422033 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00138-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Three decades of research on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS reveal that the human body has developed through evolution a genome immune system embodying epigenetic regulation against pathogenic nucleic acid invasion. In HIV infection, this epigenetic regulation plays a cardinal role in HIV RNA production that silences HIV transcription at a molecular (RNA) level, controls viral load at a cellular (biological) level, and governs the viremic stage of AIDS at the clinical (patient) level. Even though the human genome is largely similar among humans and HIV is a single viral species, human hosts show significant differences in viral RNA levels, ranging from cell to organ to individual and expressed as elite controllers, posttreatment controllers, and patients with AIDS. These are signature biomarkers of typical epigenetic regulation whose importance has been shunted aside by interpreting all of AIDS pathogenesis by the known properties of innate and adaptive immunity. We propose that harnessing the host genome immune system, defined as epigenetic immunity, against HIV infection will lead toward a cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jielin Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Clyde S Crumpacker
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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13
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Spurlock CF, Crooke PS, Aune TM. Biogenesis and Transcriptional Regulation of Long Noncoding RNAs in the Human Immune System. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2016; 197:4509-4517. [PMID: 27913643 PMCID: PMC5140008 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The central dogma of molecular biology states that DNA makes RNA makes protein. Discoveries over the last quarter of a century found that the process of DNA transcription into RNA gives rise to a diverse array of functional RNA species, including genes that code for protein and noncoding RNAs. For decades, the focus has been on understanding how protein-coding genes are regulated to influence protein expression. However, with the completion of the Human Genome Project and follow-up ENCODE data, it is now appreciated that only 2-3% of the genome codes for protein-coding gene exons and that the bulk of the transcribed genome, apart from ribosomal RNAs, is at the level of noncoding RNA genes. In this article, we focus on the biogenesis and regulation of a distinct class of noncoding RNA molecules termed long, noncoding RNAs in the context of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles F Spurlock
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232; and
| | - Philip S Crooke
- Department of Mathematics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Thomas M Aune
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232; and
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14
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Achieving HIV-1 Control through RNA-Directed Gene Regulation. Genes (Basel) 2016; 7:genes7120119. [PMID: 27941595 PMCID: PMC5192495 DOI: 10.3390/genes7120119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infection has been transformed by combined anti-retroviral therapy (ART), changing a universally fatal infection into a controllable infection. However, major obstacles for an HIV-1 cure exist. The HIV latent reservoir, which exists in resting CD4+ T cells, is not impacted by ART, and can reactivate when ART is interrupted or ceased. Additionally, multi-drug resistance can arise. One alternate approach to conventional HIV-1 drug treatment that is being explored involves gene therapies utilizing RNA-directed gene regulation. Commonly known as RNA interference (RNAi), short interfering RNA (siRNA) induce gene silencing in conserved biological pathways, which require a high degree of sequence specificity. This review will provide an overview of the silencing pathways, the current RNAi technologies being developed for HIV-1 gene therapy, current clinical trials, and the challenges faced in progressing these treatments into clinical trials.
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15
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Lin S, Zhang L, Luo W, Zhang X. Characteristics of Antisense Transcript Promoters and the Regulation of Their Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 17:E9. [PMID: 26703594 PMCID: PMC4730256 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, an increasing number of studies on natural antisense transcripts have been reported, especially regarding their classification, temporal and spatial expression patterns, regulatory functions and mechanisms. It is well established that natural antisense transcripts are produced from the strand opposite to the strand encoding a protein. Despite the pivotal roles of natural antisense transcripts in regulating the expression of target genes, the transcriptional mechanisms initiated by antisense promoters (ASPs) remain unknown. To date, nearly all of the studies conducted on this topic have focused on the ASP of a single gene of interest, whereas no study has systematically analyzed the locations of ASPs in the genome, ASP activity, or factors influencing this activity. This review focuses on elaborating on and summarizing the characteristics of ASPs to extend our knowledge about the mechanisms of antisense transcript initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shudai Lin
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
| | - Wen Luo
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Xiquan Zhang
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Guangzhou 510642, China.
- Key Lab of Chicken Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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16
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Tyagi M, Weber J, Bukrinsky M, Simon GL. The effects of cocaine on HIV transcription. J Neurovirol 2015; 22:261-74. [PMID: 26572787 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-015-0398-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Illicit drug users are a high-risk population for infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A strong correlation exists between prohibited drug use and an increased rate of HIV transmission. Cocaine stands out as one of the most frequently abused illicit drugs, and its use is correlated with HIV infection and disease progression. The central nervous system (CNS) is a common target for both drugs of abuse and HIV, and cocaine intake further accelerates neuronal injury in HIV patients. Although the high incidence of HIV infection in illicit drug abusers is primarily due to high-risk activities such as needle sharing and unprotected sex, several studies have demonstrated that cocaine enhances the rate of HIV gene expression and replication by activating various signal transduction pathways and downstream transcription factors. In order to generate mature HIV genomic transcript, HIV gene expression has to pass through both the initiation and elongation phases of transcription, which requires discrete transcription factors. In this review, we will provide a detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms that regulate HIV transcription and discuss how cocaine modulates those mechanisms to upregulate HIV transcription and eventually HIV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudit Tyagi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The George Washington University, 2300 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, DC, 20037, USA. .,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.
| | - Jaime Weber
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The George Washington University, 2300 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, DC, 20037, USA
| | - Michael Bukrinsky
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20037, USA
| | - Gary L Simon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The George Washington University, 2300 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, DC, 20037, USA
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17
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Novel RNA Duplex Locks HIV-1 in a Latent State via Chromatin-mediated Transcriptional Silencing. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2015; 4:e261. [PMID: 26506039 PMCID: PMC4881759 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2015.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) of mammalian genes can be induced by short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting promoter regions. We previously reported potent TGS of HIV-1 by siRNA (PromA), which targets tandem NF-κB motifs within the viral 5′LTR. In this study, we screened a siRNA panel with the aim of identifying novel 5′LTR targets, to provide multiplexing potential with enhanced viral silencing and application toward developing alternate therapeutic strategies. Systematic examination identified a novel siRNA target, si143, confirmed to induce TGS as the silencing mechanism. TGS was prolonged with virus suppression >12 days, despite a limited ability to induce post- TGS. Epigenetic changes associated with silencing were suggested by partial reversal by histone deacetylase inhibitors and confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses, which showed induction of H3K27me3 and H3K9me3, reduction in H3K9Ac, and recruitment of argonaute-1, all characteristic marks of heterochromatin and TGS. Together, these epigenetic changes mimic those associated with HIV-1 latency. Further, robust resistance to reactivation was observed in the J-Lat 9.2 cell latency model, when transduced with shPromA and/or sh143. These data support si/shRNA-mediated TGS approaches to HIV-1 and provide alternate targets to pursue a functional cure, whereby the viral reservoir is locked in latency following antiretroviral therapy cessation.
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Song YC, Li WJ, Li LZ. Regulatory effect of miRNA 320a on expression of aquaporin 4 in brain tissue of epileptic rats. ASIAN PAC J TROP MED 2015; 8:807-12. [PMID: 26522295 DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Revised: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the expression of miRNA 320a in the brain tissue of epileptic rats and analyze its effect on the expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4). METHODS All rats were performed with the intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride (3 mmol/kg) and then the intraperitoneal injection of pilocarpine (30 mg/kg) 24 h later (injected twice) to prepare the epileptic model of Wistar rats. Rats in the control group were injected with the equal volume of normal saline. According to the Racine scale, rats with over stage 3 of epilepsy were chosen and the brain tissue was separated quickly and then stored at -80 °C. The immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of aquaporin in the brain tissue of epileptic model and the Real-time PCR was employed to determine the difference in the expression of miRNA 320a and AQP4 in the brain tissue of rats between the epileptic model group and control group. Five 5-day neonatal Wistar rats were chosen to collect the cerebral cortex and their primary astrocytes were separated and cultured. They were transfected with miRNA mimic and imitated to the endogenous miRNA 320a to up-regulate the expression of miRNA 320a. RESULTS In the model group, the expression of AQP4 was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.01). However, the expression of miRNA 320a in the model group was lower than control group (P < 0.05), which was negatively correlated to AQP4. In the primary astrocytes, the transfection of miRNA 320a mimic could significantly reduce the expression of AQP4, while its inhibitor could up-regulate the expression of AQP4, which indicated that miRNA 320a could reduce the expression of AQP4. CONCLUSIONS In the primary astrocytes of rats, the miRNA 320a could inhibit the expression of AQP4 and after adding the inhibitor of miRNA 320a, the expression of AQP4 was up-regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Cheng Song
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Ankang Hospital, Jining 272051, China
| | - Wen-Juan Li
- Institute of Forensic Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China.
| | - Liu-Zhi Li
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Ankang Hospital, Jining 272051, China
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19
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Ahlenstiel CL, Suzuki K, Marks K, Symonds GP, Kelleher AD. Controlling HIV-1: Non-Coding RNA Gene Therapy Approaches to a Functional Cure. Front Immunol 2015; 6:474. [PMID: 26441979 PMCID: PMC4584958 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The current treatment strategy for HIV-1 involves prolonged and intensive combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), which successfully suppresses plasma viremia. It has transformed HIV-1 infection into a chronic disease. However, despite the success of cART, a latent form of HIV-1 infection persists as integrated provirus in resting memory CD4(+) T cells. Virus can reactivate from this reservoir upon cessation of treatment, and hence HIV requires lifelong therapy. The reservoir represents a major barrier to eradication. Understanding molecular mechanisms regulating HIV-1 transcription and latency are crucial to develop alternate treatment strategies, which impact upon the reservoir and provide a path toward a "functional cure" in which there is no detectable viremia in the absence of cART. Numerous reports have suggested ncRNAs are involved in regulating viral transcription and latency. This review will discuss the latest developments in ncRNAs, specifically short interfering (si)RNA and short hairpin (sh)RNA, targeting molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 transcription, which may represent potential future therapeutics. It will also briefly address animal models for testing potential therapeutics and current gene therapy clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kazuo Suzuki
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Immunovirology Laboratory, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Marks
- Immunovirology Laboratory, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Anthony D. Kelleher
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Immunovirology Laboratory, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
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