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Caocci M, Niu M, Fox HS, Burdo TH. HIV Infection Drives Foam Cell Formation via NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2367. [PMID: 38397063 PMCID: PMC10889596 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042367] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Persistent immune activation is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The NLRP3 inflammasome may contribute to elevated CVD risk in PWH. This study utilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 25 PWH and 25 HIV-negative controls, as well as HIV in vitro infections. Transcriptional changes were analyzed using RNAseq and pathway analysis. Our results showed that in vitro HIV infection of macrophages and PBMCs from PWH had increased foam cell formation and expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome components and downstream cytokines (caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18), which was reduced with inhibition of NLRP3 activity using MCC950. Transcriptomic analysis revealed an increased expression of multiple genes involved in lipid metabolism, cholesterol storage, coronary microcirculation disorders, ischemic events, and monocyte/macrophage differentiation and function with HIV infection and oxLDL treatment. HIV infection and NLRP3 activation increased foam cell formation and expression of proinflammatory cytokines, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying HIV-associated atherogenesis. This study suggests that HIV itself may contribute to increased CVD risk in PWH. Understanding the involvement of the inflammasome pathway in HIV atherosclerosis can help identify potential therapeutic targets to mitigate cardiovascular risks in PWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Caocci
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Inflammation, Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing, 3500 N Broad St. MERB 760, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA;
| | - Meng Niu
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (M.N.); (H.S.F.)
| | - Howard S. Fox
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (M.N.); (H.S.F.)
| | - Tricia H. Burdo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Inflammation, Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing, 3500 N Broad St. MERB 760, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA;
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Phoswa WN, Khaliq OP, Eche S. A Review on Inflammasomes and Immune Checkpoints in Pre-Eclampsia Complicated with Tuberculosis and Human Immune Deficiency Virus. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6627. [PMID: 37681767 PMCID: PMC10487055 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The current review evaluates how inflammasomes and immune checkpoints are regulated in pre-eclampsia (PE) associated with tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). Studies indicate that inflammasomes such as (NRLP3, NEK7, and AIM2) and immune checkpoints such as (CLT4, PD-1, TIM3, and LAG-3) are dysregulated in TB- and HIV-infected individuals, and also in pre-eclamptic pregnancies, which explains why pregnant women who are either infected with TB or HIV have an increased risk of developing PE. Evidence suggests that inhibition of inflammasomes and immune checkpoints may assist in the development of novel anti-inflammatory drugs for the prevention and management of PE in patients with or without TB and HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy N. Phoswa
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, Science Campus, University of South Africa (UNISA), Private Bag X 6, Florida, Roodepoort 1710, South Africa
| | - Olive P. Khaliq
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa;
| | - Simeon Eche
- School of Medicine, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CO 06510, USA;
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Freeman TL, Zhao C, Schrode N, Fortune T, Shroff S, Tweel B, Beaumont KG, Swartz TH. HIV-1 activates oxidative phosphorylation in infected CD4 T cells in a human tonsil explant model. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1172938. [PMID: 37325659 PMCID: PMC10266353 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1172938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) causes a chronic, incurable infection leading to immune activation and chronic inflammation in people with HIV-1 (PWH), even with virologic suppression on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The role of lymphoid structures as reservoirs for viral latency and immune activation has been implicated in chronic inflammation mechanisms. Still, the specific transcriptomic changes induced by HIV-1 infection in different cell types within lymphoid tissue remain unexplored. Methods In this study, we utilized human tonsil explants from healthy human donors and infected them with HIV-1 ex vivo. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze the cell types represented in the tissue and to investigate the impact of infection on gene expression profiles and inflammatory signaling pathways. Results Our analysis revealed that infected CD4+ T cells exhibited upregulation of genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, macrophages exposed to the virus but uninfected showed increased expression of genes associated with the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Discussion These findings provide valuable insights into the specific transcriptomic changes induced by HIV-1 infection in different cell types within lymphoid tissue. The activation of oxidative phosphorylation in infected CD4+ T cells and the proinflammatory response in macrophages may contribute to the chronic inflammation observed in PWH despite ART. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted therapeutic strategies to eradicate HIV-1 infection in PWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey L. Freeman
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh-Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Connie Zhao
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nadine Schrode
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Trinisia Fortune
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sanjana Shroff
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Benjamin Tweel
- Department of Otolaryngology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kristin G. Beaumont
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Talia H. Swartz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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Toribio M, Wilks MQ, Hedgire S, Lu MT, Cetlin M, Wang M, Alhallak I, Durbin CG, White KS, Wallis Z, Schnittman SR, Stanley TL, El-Fakhri G, Lee H, Autissier P, Zanni MV, Williams KC, Grinspoon SK. Increased Macrophage-Specific Arterial Infiltration Relates to Non-calcified Plaque and Systemic Immune Activation in People with HIV. J Infect Dis 2022; 226:1823-1833. [PMID: 35856671 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent immune activation is thought to contribute to heightened atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk among people with HIV (PWH). METHODS Participants (≥18 years) with versus without HIV and without history of clinical ASCVD were enrolled. We hypothesized that increased macrophage-specific arterial infiltration would relate to plaque composition and systemic immune activation among PWH. We applied a novel targeted molecular imaging approach [technetium-99 m (99mTc)-tilmanocept single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT] and comprehensive immune phenotyping. RESULTS Aortic 99mTc-tilmanocept uptake was significantly higher among PWH (N = 20) versus participants without HIV (N = 10) with similar 10-year ASCVD risk (P = 0.02). Among PWH, but not among participants without HIV, non-calcified aortic plaque volume related directly to aortic 99mTc-tilmanocept uptake at different uptake thresholds. An interaction (P = 0.001) was seen between HIV status and non-calcified plaque volume, but not calcified plaque (P = 0.83). Systemic levels of caspase-1 (P = 0.004), CD14-CD16+ (non-classical/patrolling/homing) monocytes (P = 0.0004) and CD8+ T-cells (P = 0.005) related positively and CD4+/CD8 + T-cell ratio (P = 0.02) inversely to aortic 99mTc-tilmanocept uptake volume. CONCLUSIONS Macrophage-specific arterial infiltration was higher among PWH and related to non-calcified aortic plaque volume only among PWH. Key systemic markers of immune activation relating to macrophage-specific arterial infiltration may contribute to heightened ASCVD risk among PWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabel Toribio
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Moses Q Wilks
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sandeep Hedgire
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael T Lu
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Madeline Cetlin
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Melissa Wang
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Iad Alhallak
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Claudia G Durbin
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin S White
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Zoey Wallis
- Biology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Samuel R Schnittman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Takara L Stanley
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Georges El-Fakhri
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hang Lee
- Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Markella V Zanni
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Steven K Grinspoon
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Caufriez A, Tabernilla A, Van Campenhout R, Cooreman A, Leroy K, Sanz Serrano J, Kadam P, dos Santos Rodrigues B, Lamouroux A, Ballet S, Vinken M. Effects of Drugs Formerly Suggested for COVID-19 Repurposing on Pannexin1 Channels. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105664. [PMID: 35628472 PMCID: PMC9146942 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Although many efforts have been made to elucidate the pathogenesis of COVID-19, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully uncovered. However, it is known that a dysfunctional immune response and the accompanying uncontrollable inflammation lead to troublesome outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Pannexin1 channels are put forward as interesting drug targets for the treatment of COVID-19 due to their key role in inflammation and their link to other viral infections. In the present study, we selected a panel of drugs previously tested in clinical trials as potential candidates for the treatment of COVID-19 early on in the pandemic, including hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, azithromycin, dexamethasone, ribavirin, remdesivir, favipiravir, lopinavir, and ritonavir. The effect of the drugs on pannexin1 channels was assessed at a functional level by means of measurement of extracellular ATP release. Immunoblot analysis and real-time quantitative reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction analysis were used to study the potential of the drugs to alter pannexin1 protein and mRNA expression levels, respectively. Favipiravir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, and the combination of lopinavir with ritonavir were found to inhibit pannexin1 channel activity without affecting pannexin1 protein or mRNA levels. Thusthree new inhibitors of pannexin1 channels were identified that, though currently not being used anymore for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, could be potential drug candidates for other pannexin1-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Caufriez
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (A.T.); (R.V.C.); (A.C.); (K.L.); (J.S.S.); (P.K.); (B.d.S.R.)
- Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (A.L.); (S.B.)
| | - Andrés Tabernilla
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (A.T.); (R.V.C.); (A.C.); (K.L.); (J.S.S.); (P.K.); (B.d.S.R.)
| | - Raf Van Campenhout
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (A.T.); (R.V.C.); (A.C.); (K.L.); (J.S.S.); (P.K.); (B.d.S.R.)
| | - Axelle Cooreman
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (A.T.); (R.V.C.); (A.C.); (K.L.); (J.S.S.); (P.K.); (B.d.S.R.)
| | - Kaat Leroy
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (A.T.); (R.V.C.); (A.C.); (K.L.); (J.S.S.); (P.K.); (B.d.S.R.)
| | - Julen Sanz Serrano
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (A.T.); (R.V.C.); (A.C.); (K.L.); (J.S.S.); (P.K.); (B.d.S.R.)
| | - Prashant Kadam
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (A.T.); (R.V.C.); (A.C.); (K.L.); (J.S.S.); (P.K.); (B.d.S.R.)
| | - Bruna dos Santos Rodrigues
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (A.T.); (R.V.C.); (A.C.); (K.L.); (J.S.S.); (P.K.); (B.d.S.R.)
| | - Arthur Lamouroux
- Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (A.L.); (S.B.)
| | - Steven Ballet
- Departments of Chemistry and Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (A.L.); (S.B.)
| | - Mathieu Vinken
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (A.T.); (R.V.C.); (A.C.); (K.L.); (J.S.S.); (P.K.); (B.d.S.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-2477-4587
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Research Progress on the Relationship between the NLRP3 Inflammasome and Immune Reconstitution in HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:3179200. [PMID: 35309841 PMCID: PMC8930245 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3179200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized not only by severe immunodeficiency but also by persistent inflammation and immune activation. These characteristics persist in people living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) and are associated with morbidity and mortality in nonacquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) events. ART can inhibit HIV replication and promote immune reconstitution, which is currently the most effective way to control AIDS. However, despite effective long-term ART and overall suppression of plasma HIV RNA level, PLHIV still shows chronic low-level inflammation. The exact mechanisms that trigger chronic inflammation are unknown. Activation of the inflammasome is essential for the host response to pathogens, and some recent studies have confirmed the role of the inflammasome in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been widely studied, which is a pyrin domain-containing protein 3 belonging to the family of nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLRs). Recent studies suggest that inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis is associated with CD4+ T cell loss in the absence of persistent infectious HIV replication. This article reviews the mechanism of the NLRP3 inflammasome and its correlation with immune reconstitution in PLHIV treated with ART.
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