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Ta TM, Malik S, Anderson EM, Jones AD, Perchik J, Freylikh M, Sardo L, Klase ZA, Izumi T. Insights Into Persistent HIV-1 Infection and Functional Cure: Novel Capabilities and Strategies. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:862270. [PMID: 35572626 PMCID: PMC9093714 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.862270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although HIV-1 replication can be efficiently suppressed to undetectable levels in peripheral blood by combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), lifelong medication is still required in people living with HIV (PLWH). Life expectancies have been extended by cART, but age-related comorbidities have increased which are associated with heavy physiological and economic burdens on PLWH. The obstacle to a functional HIV cure can be ascribed to the formation of latent reservoir establishment at the time of acute infection that persists during cART. Recent studies suggest that some HIV reservoirs are established in the early acute stages of HIV infection within multiple immune cells that are gradually shaped by various host and viral mechanisms and may undergo clonal expansion. Early cART initiation has been shown to reduce the reservoir size in HIV-infected individuals. Memory CD4+ T cell subsets are regarded as the predominant cellular compartment of the HIV reservoir, but monocytes and derivative macrophages or dendritic cells also play a role in the persistent virus infection. HIV latency is regulated at multiple molecular levels in transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes. Epigenetic regulation of the proviral promoter can profoundly regulate the viral transcription. In addition, transcriptional elongation, RNA splicing, and nuclear export pathways are also involved in maintaining HIV latency. Although most proviruses contain large internal deletions, some defective proviruses may induce immune activation by expressing viral proteins or producing replication-defective viral-like particles. In this review article, we discuss the state of the art on mechanisms of virus persistence in the periphery and tissue and summarize interdisciplinary approaches toward a functional HIV cure, including novel capabilities and strategies to measure and eliminate the infected reservoirs and induce immune control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tram M. Ta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sajjaf Malik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Elizabeth M. Anderson
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Region 3, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Amber D. Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jocelyn Perchik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Maryann Freylikh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Luca Sardo
- Department of Infectious Disease and Vaccines, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States
| | - Zackary A. Klase
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Center for Neuroimmunology and CNS Therapeutics, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Drexel University of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Taisuke Izumi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States,*Correspondence: Taisuke Izumi,
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Schnell AP, Kohrt S, Thoma-Kress AK. Latency Reversing Agents: Kick and Kill of HTLV-1? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115545. [PMID: 34073995 PMCID: PMC8197370 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the cause of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), is a retrovirus, which integrates into the host genome and persistently infects CD4+ T-cells. Virus propagation is stimulated by (1) clonal expansion of infected cells and (2) de novo infection. Viral gene expression is induced by the transactivator protein Tax, which recruits host factors like positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) to the viral promoter. Since HTLV-1 gene expression is repressed in vivo by viral, cellular, and epigenetic mechanisms in late phases of infection, HTLV-1 avoids an efficient CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) response directed against the immunodominant viral Tax antigen. Hence, therapeutic strategies using latency reversing agents (LRAs) sought to transiently activate viral gene expression and antigen presentation of Tax to enhance CTL responses towards HTLV-1, and thus, to expose the latent HTLV-1 reservoir to immune destruction. Here, we review strategies that aimed at enhancing Tax expression and Tax-specific CTL responses to interfere with HTLV-1 latency. Further, we provide an overview of LRAs including (1) histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and (2) activators of P-TEFb, that have mainly been studied in context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but which may also be powerful in the context of HTLV-1.
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P-TEFb as A Promising Therapeutic Target. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25040838. [PMID: 32075058 PMCID: PMC7070488 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25040838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) was first identified as a general factor that stimulates transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), but soon afterwards it turned out to be an essential cellular co-factor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transcription mediated by viral Tat proteins. Studies on the mechanisms of Tat-dependent HIV transcription have led to radical advances in our knowledge regarding the mechanism of eukaryotic transcription, including the discoveries that P-TEFb-mediated elongation control of cellular transcription is a main regulatory step of gene expression in eukaryotes, and deregulation of P-TEFb activity plays critical roles in many human diseases and conditions in addition to HIV/AIDS. P-TEFb is now recognized as an attractive and promising therapeutic target for inflammation/autoimmune diseases, cardiac hypertrophy, cancer, infectious diseases, etc. In this review article, I will summarize our knowledge about basic P-TEFb functions, the regulatory mechanism of P-TEFb-dependent transcription, P-TEFb’s involvement in biological processes and diseases, and current approaches to manipulating P-TEFb functions for the treatment of these diseases.
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Ait-Ammar A, Kula A, Darcis G, Verdikt R, De Wit S, Gautier V, Mallon PWG, Marcello A, Rohr O, Van Lint C. Current Status of Latency Reversing Agents Facing the Heterogeneity of HIV-1 Cellular and Tissue Reservoirs. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:3060. [PMID: 32038533 PMCID: PMC6993040 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most explored therapeutic approaches aimed at eradicating HIV-1 reservoirs is the "shock and kill" strategy which is based on HIV-1 reactivation in latently-infected cells ("shock" phase) while maintaining antiretroviral therapy (ART) in order to prevent spreading of the infection by the neosynthesized virus. This kind of strategy allows for the "kill" phase, during which latently-infected cells die from viral cytopathic effects or from host cytolytic effector mechanisms following viral reactivation. Several latency reversing agents (LRAs) with distinct mechanistic classes have been characterized to reactivate HIV-1 viral gene expression. Some LRAs have been tested in terms of their potential to purge latent HIV-1 in vivo in clinical trials, showing that reversing HIV-1 latency is possible. However, LRAs alone have failed to reduce the size of the viral reservoirs. Together with the inability of the immune system to clear the LRA-activated reservoirs and the lack of specificity of these LRAs, the heterogeneity of the reservoirs largely contributes to the limited success of clinical trials using LRAs. Indeed, HIV-1 latency is established in numerous cell types that are characterized by distinct phenotypes and metabolic properties, and these are influenced by patient history. Hence, the silencing mechanisms of HIV-1 gene expression in these cellular and tissue reservoirs need to be better understood to rationally improve this cure strategy and hopefully reach clinical success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Ait-Ammar
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Virology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Anna Kula
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Virology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Gilles Darcis
- Infectious Diseases Department, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Roxane Verdikt
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Virology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Stephane De Wit
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses, CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Virginie Gautier
- UCD Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research (CEPHR), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patrick W G Mallon
- UCD Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research (CEPHR), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alessandro Marcello
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Olivier Rohr
- Université de Strasbourg, EA7292, FMTS, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France
| | - Carine Van Lint
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Virology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium
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Abstract
Studies of RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) transcription of the HIV-1 genome are of clinical interest, as the insight gained may lead to strategies to selectively reactivate latent viruses in patients in whom viral replication is suppressed by antiviral drugs. Such a targeted reactivation may contribute to a functional cure of infection. This review discusses five Cyclin-dependent kinases - CDK7, CDK9, CDK11, CDK2, and CDK8 - involved in transcription and processing of HIV-1 RNA. CDK7 is required for Pol II promoter clearance of reactivated viruses; CDK7 also functions as an activating kinase for CDK9 when resting CD4+ T cells harboring latent HIV-1 are activated. CDK9 is targeted by the viral Tat protein and is essential for productive Pol II elongation of the HIV-1 genome. CDK11 is associated with the TREX/THOC complex and it functions in the 3' end processing and polyadenylation of HIV-1 transcripts. CDK2 phosphorylates Tat and CDK9 and this stimulates Tat activation of Pol II transcription. CDK8 may stimulate Pol II transcription of the HIV-1 genome through co-recruitment with NF-κB to the viral promoter. Some notable open questions are discussed concerning the roles of these CDKs in HIV-1 replication and viral latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Rice
- a Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology , Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
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Rice AP. The HIV-1 Tat Protein: Mechanism of Action and Target for HIV-1 Cure Strategies. Curr Pharm Des 2018; 23:4098-4102. [PMID: 28677507 DOI: 10.2174/1381612823666170704130635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The general mechanism involved in Tat activation of RNA Polymerase II (RNAP II) elongation of the integrated HIV-1 was elucidated over 20 years ago. This mechanism involves Tat binding to the TAR RNA element that forms at the 5' end of viral transcripts and recruiting a general RNAP II elongation factor termed as PTEFb. This elongation factor consists of CDK9 and Cyclin T1, and when recruited by Tat to TAR RNA, CDK9 was proposed to phosphorylate the carboxyl terminal domain of RNAP II and thereby activate elongation. Research in the past two decades has shown that the mechanism of Tat action is considerably more complicated than this simple model. In metabolically active cells, CDK9 and Cyclin T1 are now known to be largely sequestered in a RNA-protein complex termed the 7SK RNP. CDK9 and Cyclin T1 are released from the 7SK RNP by mechanisms not yet fully elucidated and along with Tat, bind to TAR RNA and orchestrate the assembly of a Super Elongation Complex (SEC) containing several additional proteins. CDK9 in the SEC then phosphorylates multiple substrates in the RNAP II complex to activate elongation. Importantly for therapeutic strategies, CDK9 and Cyclin T1 functions are down-regulated in resting CD4+ T cells that harbor latent HIV-1, and their up-regulation is required for reactivation of latent virus. Current strategies for a functional cure of HIV-1 infection therefore are likely to require development of latency reversal agents that up-regulate CDK9 and Cyclin T1 function in resting CD4+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Rice
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030. United States
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7
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Saha JM, Liu H, Hu PW, Nikolai BC, Wu H, Miao H, Rice AP. Proteomic Profiling of a Primary CD4 + T Cell Model of HIV-1 Latency Identifies Proteins Whose Differential Expression Correlates with Reactivation of Latent HIV-1. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2018; 34:103-110. [PMID: 29084447 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2017.0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The latent HIV-1 reservoir of memory CD4+ T cells that persists during combination antiviral therapy prevents a cure of infection. Insight into mechanisms of latency and viral reactivation are essential for the rational design of strategies to reduce the latent reservoir. In this study, we quantified the levels of >2,600 proteins in the CCL19 primary CD4+ T cell model of HIV-1 latency. We profiled proteins under conditions that promote latent infection and after cells were treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) + ionomycin, which is known to efficiently induce reactivation of latent HIV-1. In an analysis of cells from two healthy blood donors, we identified 61 proteins that were upregulated ≥2-fold, and 36 proteins that were downregulated ≥2-fold under conditions in which latent viruses were reactivated. These differentially expressed proteins are, therefore, candidates for cellular factors that regulate latency or viral reactivation. Two unexpected findings were obtained from the proteomic data: (1) the interactions among the majority of upregulated proteins are largely undetermined in published protein-protein interaction networks and (2) downregulated proteins are strongly associated with Gene Ontology terms related to mitochondrial protein synthesis. This proteomic data set provides a useful resource for future mechanistic studies of HIV-1 latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamaluddin Md Saha
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Hongbing Liu
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Pei-Wen Hu
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Bryan C. Nikolai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Hulin Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas
| | - Hongyu Miao
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas
| | - Andrew P. Rice
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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8
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Lu P, Shen Y, Yang H, Wang Y, Jiang Z, Yang X, Zhong Y, Pan H, Xu J, Lu H, Zhu H. BET inhibitors RVX-208 and PFI-1 reactivate HIV-1 from latency. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16646. [PMID: 29192216 PMCID: PMC5709369 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16816-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent latent reservoir in resting CD4+ T cells is a major obstacle in curing HIV-1 infection. Effective strategies for eradication of the HIV-1 reservoir are urgently needed. We report here for the first time that two BET inhibitors, RVX-208, which has entered phase II clinical trials for diverse cardiovascular disorders, and PFI-1, which has been widely studied in oncology, can reactivate HIV-1 from latency. RVX-208 and PFI-1 treatment alone or in combination with other latency reversing agents efficiently reactivated HIV-1 transcription through an up-regulation of P-TEFb by increasing CDK9 Thr-186 phosphorylation in latently infected Jurkat T cells in vitro. The two BET inhibitors also reactivated HIV-1 transcription in cART treated patient-derived resting CD4+ T cells ex vivo, without influence on global immune cell activation. Our findings, in combination with previous reports, further confirm that BET inhibitors are a group of leading compounds for combating HIV-1 latency for viral eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yinzhong Shen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministry of Education/Health, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - He Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Zhengtao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Xinyi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yangcheng Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Hanyu Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jianqing Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministry of Education/Health, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Hongzhou Lu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministry of Education/Health, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Huanzhang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION A number of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) mediate key steps in the HIV-1 replication cycle and therefore have potential to serve as therapeutic targets for HIV-1 infection, especially in HIV-1 cure strategies. Current HIV-1 cure strategies involve the development of small molecules that are able to activate HIV-1 from latent infection, thereby allowing the immune system to recognize and clear infected cells. Areas covered: The role of seven CDK family members in the HIV-1 replication cycle is reviewed, with a focus on CDK9, as the mechanism whereby the viral Tat protein utilizes CDK9 to enhance viral replication is known in considerable detail. Expert opinion: Given the essential roles of CDKs in cellular proliferation and gene expression, small molecules that inhibit CDKs are unlikely to be feasible therapeutics for HIV-1 infection. However, small molecules that activate CDK9 and other select CDKs such as CDK11 have potential to reactivate latent HIV-1 and contribute to a functional cure of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Rice
- a Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology , Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX USA
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Jamaluddin MS, Hu PW, Jan Y, Siwak EB, Rice AP. Short Communication: The Broad-Spectrum Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Vorinostat and Panobinostat Activate Latent HIV in CD4(+) T Cells In Part Through Phosphorylation of the T-Loop of the CDK9 Subunit of P-TEFb. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2016; 32:169-73. [PMID: 26727990 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2015.0347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cessation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-infected individual leads to a rebound of viral replication due to reactivation of a viral reservoir composed largely of latently infected memory CD4(+) T cells. Efforts to deplete this reservoir have focused on reactivation of transcriptionally silent latent proviruses. HIV provirus transcription depends critically on the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), whose core components are cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and cyclin T1. In resting CD4(+) cells, the functional levels of P-TEFb are extremely low. Cellular activation upregulates cyclin T1 protein levels and CDK9 T-loop (T186) phosphorylation. The broad-spectrum histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) vorinostat and panobinostat have been shown to reactivate latent virus in vivo in HAART-treated individuals. In this study, we have found that vorinostat and panobinostat activate P-TEFb in resting primary CD4(+) T cells through induction of CDK9 T-loop phosphorylation. In contrast, tacedinaline and romidepsin, HDAC 1 and 2 inhibitors, were unable to activate CDK9 T-loop phosphorylation. We used a CCL19 primary CD4(+) T-cell model HIV latency to assess the correlation between induction of CDK9 T-loop phosphorylation and reactivation of latent HIV virus by HDACis. Vorinostat and panobinostat treatment of cells harboring latent HIV increased CDK9 T-loop phosphorylation and reactivation of latent virus, whereas tacedinaline and romidepsin failed to induce T-loop phosphorylation or reactivate latent virus. We conclude that the ability of vorinostat and panobinostat to induce latent HIV is, in part, likely due to the ability of the broad-spectrum HDACis to upregulate P-TEFb through increased CDK9 T-loop phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Saha Jamaluddin
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Pei-Wen Hu
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Yih Jan
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Edward B. Siwak
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Andrew P. Rice
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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11
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Zhang Y, Yin C, Zhang T, Li F, Yang W, Kaminski R, Fagan PR, Putatunda R, Young WB, Khalili K, Hu W. CRISPR/gRNA-directed synergistic activation mediator (SAM) induces specific, persistent and robust reactivation of the HIV-1 latent reservoirs. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16277. [PMID: 26538064 PMCID: PMC4633726 DOI: 10.1038/srep16277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Current antiretroviral therapy does not eliminate the integrated and transcriptionally silent HIV-1 provirus in latently infected cells. Recently, a "shock and kill" strategy has been extensively explored to eradicate the HIV-1 latent reservoirs for a permanent cure of AIDS. The therapeutic efficacy of currently used agents remains disappointing because of low efficiency, non-specificity and cellular toxicity. Here we present a novel catalytically-deficient Cas9-synergistic activation mediator (dCas9-SAM) technology to selectively, potently and persistently reactivate the HIV-1 latent reservoirs. By screening 16 MS2-mediated single guide RNAs, we identified long terminal repeat (LTR)-L and O that surround the enhancer region (-165/-145 for L and -92/-112 for O) and induce robust reactivation of HIV-1 provirus in HIV-1 latent TZM-bI epithelial, Jurkat T lymphocytic and CHME5 microglial cells. This compulsory reactivation induced cellular suicide via toxic buildup of viral proteins within HIV-1 latent Jurkat T and CHME5 microglial cells. These results suggest that this highly effective and target-specific dCas9-SAM system can serve as a novel HIV-latency-reversing therapeutic tool for the permanent elimination of HIV-1 latent reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neurovirology and The Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Chaoran Yin
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neurovirology and The Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neurovirology and The Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neurovirology and The Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Wensheng Yang
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neurovirology and The Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Rafal Kaminski
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neurovirology and The Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Philip Regis Fagan
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neurovirology and The Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Raj Putatunda
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neurovirology and The Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Won-Bin Young
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219
| | - Kamel Khalili
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neurovirology and The Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
| | - Wenhui Hu
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neurovirology and The Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, Temple University School of Medicine, 3500 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
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12
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Lu HK, Gray LR, Wightman F, Ellenberg P, Khoury G, Cheng WJ, Mota TM, Wesselingh S, Gorry PR, Cameron PU, Churchill MJ, Lewin SR. Ex vivo response to histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors of the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) derived from HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113341. [PMID: 25409334 PMCID: PMC4237424 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) can induce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transcription from the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR). However, ex vivo and in vivo responses to HDACi are variable and the activity of HDACi in cells other than T-cells have not been well characterised. Here, we developed a novel assay to determine the activity of HDACi on patient-derived HIV LTRs in different cell types. HIV LTRs from integrated virus were amplified using triple-nested Alu-PCR from total memory CD4+ T-cells (CD45RO+) isolated from HIV-infected patients prior to and following suppressive antiretroviral therapy. NL4-3 or patient-derived HIV LTRs were cloned into the chromatin forming episomal vector pCEP4, and the effect of HDACi investigated in the astrocyte and epithelial cell lines SVG and HeLa, respectively. There were no significant differences in the sequence of the HIV LTRs isolated from CD4+ T-cells prior to and after 18 months of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). We found that in both cell lines, the HDACi panobinostat, trichostatin A, vorinostat and entinostat activated patient-derived HIV LTRs to similar levels seen with NL4-3 and all patient derived isolates had similar sensitivity to maximum HDACi stimulation. We observed a marked difference in the maximum fold induction of luciferase by HDACi in HeLa and SVG, suggesting that the effect of HDACi may be influenced by the cellular environment. Finally, we observed significant synergy in activation of the LTR with vorinostat and the viral protein Tat. Together, our results suggest that the LTR sequence of integrated virus is not a major determinant of a functional response to an HDACi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao K. Lu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lachlan R. Gray
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fiona Wightman
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paula Ellenberg
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gabriela Khoury
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Wan-Jung Cheng
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Talia M. Mota
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steve Wesselingh
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gorry
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul U. Cameron
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Infectious Disease Unit, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa J. Churchill
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sharon R. Lewin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Infectious Disease Unit, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Peter Doherty Institute, Melbourne University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Chauhan A, Tikoo A, Patel J, Abdullah AM. HIV-1 endocytosis in astrocytes: a kiss of death or survival of the fittest? Neurosci Res 2014; 88:16-22. [PMID: 25219546 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2014.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Revised: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The brain is a target of HIV-1 and serves as an important viral reservoir. Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell in the human brain, are involved in brain plasticity and neuroprotection. Several studies have reported HIV-1 infection of astrocytes in cell cultures and infected brain tissues. The prevailing concept is that HIV-1 infection of astrocytes leads to latent infection. Here, we provide our perspective on endocytosis-mediated HIV-1 entry and its fate in astrocytes. Natural entry of HIV-1 into astrocytes occurs via endocytosis. However, endocytosis of HIV-1 in astrocytes is a natural death trap where the majority of virus particles are degraded in endosomes and a few which escape intact lead to successful infection. Thus, regardless of artificial fine-tuning (treatment with cytokines or proinflammatory products) done to astrocytes, HIV-1 does not infect them efficiently unless the viral entry route or the endosomal enzymatic machinery has been manipulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Chauhan
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, United States; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, United States.
| | - Akshay Tikoo
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, United States
| | - Jankiben Patel
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, United States
| | - Arwa Mujahid Abdullah
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, United States
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