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Asia LK, Van Vuren EJ, Kruger IM, Williams ME. A Pilot Investigation of the Association Between Vpr Amino Acid Substitutions and Peripheral Immune Marker Levels in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Implications for Neurocognitive Impairment. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae111. [PMID: 38524224 PMCID: PMC10960601 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Subtype-specific amino acid variations in viral proteins of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) influence disease progression. Furthermore, Vpr sequence variation correlates with chronic inflammation, a central mechanism in HIV-1 (neuro)pathogenesis. Nevertheless, no clinical study has investigated the link between Vpr sequence variation and peripheral inflammation in people with HIV (PWH). The aim of this pilot study was to ascertain whether specific Vpr amino acid variants were associated with immune markers in PWH. Methods We included a unique cohort of 48 treatment-naive South African PWH to determine the association between blood-derived Vpr sequence variation and peripheral immune marker levels using Sanger sequencing and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis, respectively. Results Our findings indicate that among the many neuropathogenic Vpr amino acid variants and immune markers examined, after applying Bonferroni corrections (P = .05/3) and adjusting for sex and locality, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) was nearing significance for higher levels in participants with the G41 amino acid variant compared to those with the S41 variant (P = .035). Furthermore, amino acid variations at position 41 (between G41 and S41) exhibited a significant association with suPAR (adjusted R2 = 0.089, β = .386 [95% confidence interval, .125-3.251]; P = .035). Conclusions These findings suggest that Vpr amino acid sequence variations might contribute to dysregulated inflammation, which could explain the observed association between specific Vpr variants and HIV-1 (neuro)pathogenesis found in prior research. These Vpr variants merit further investigation to fully understand their roles in HIV-1 pathogenesis and neuropathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levanco K Asia
- Human Metabolomics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Esmé Jansen Van Vuren
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council, Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Iolanthé M Kruger
- Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Monray E Williams
- Human Metabolomics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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2
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Williams ME. HIV-1 Vif protein sequence variations in South African people living with HIV and their influence on Vif-APOBEC3G interaction. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 43:325-338. [PMID: 38072879 PMCID: PMC10821834 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04728-0] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite extensive research, HIV-1 remains a global epidemic with variations in pathogenesis across regions and subtypes. The Viral Infectivity Factor (Vif) protein, which neutralizes the host protein APOBEC3G, has been implicated in differences in clinical outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Most studies on Vif sequence diversity have focused on subtype B, leaving gaps in understanding Vif variations in HIV-1C regions like South Africa. This study aimed to identify and compare Vif sequence diversity in a cohort of 51 South African PLHIV and other HIV-1C prevalent regions. METHODS Sanger sequencing was used for Vif analysis in the cohort, and additional sequences were obtained from the Los Alamos database. Molecular modeling and docking techniques were employed to study the influence of subtype-specific variants on Vif-APOBEC3G binding affinity. RESULTS The findings showed distinct genetic variations between Vif sequences from India and Uganda, while South African sequences had wider distribution and closer relatedness to both. Specific amino acid substitutions in Vif were associated with geographic groups. Molecular modeling and docking analyses consistently identified specific residues (ARGR19, LYS26, TYR30, TYR44, and TRP79) as primary contributors to intermolecular contacts between Vif and APOBEC3G, essential for their interaction. The Indian Vif variant exhibited the highest predicted binding affinity to APOBEC3G among the studied groups. CONCLUSIONS These results provide insights into Vif sequence diversity in HIV-1C prevalent regions and shed light on differential pathogenesis observed in different geographical areas. The identified Vif amino acid residues warrant further investigation for their diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential.
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3
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Asia LK, Jansen Van Vuren E, Williams ME. The influence of viral protein R amino acid substitutions on clinical outcomes in people living with HIV: A systematic review. Eur J Clin Invest 2022; 53:e13943. [PMID: 36579370 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The HIV viral protein R (Vpr) is a multifunction protein involved in the pathophysiology of HIV-1. Recent evidence has suggested that Vpr amino acid substitutions influence the pathophysiology of HIV-1 and clinical outcomes in people living with HIV (PLWH). Several studies have linked Vpr amino acid substitutions to clinical outcomes in PLWH; however, there is no clear consensus as to which amino acids or amino acid substitutions are most important in the pathophysiology and clinical outcomes in PLWH. We, therefore, conducted a systematic review of studies investigating Vpr amino acid substitutions and clinical outcomes in PLWH. METHODS PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched according to PRISMA guidelines using a search protocol designed specifically for this study. RESULTS A total of 22 studies were included for data extraction, comprising 14 cross-sectional and 8 longitudinal studies. Results indicated that Vpr amino acid substitutions were associated with specific clinical outcomes, including disease progressions, neurological outcomes and treatment status. Studies consistently showed that the Vpr substitution 63T was associated with slower disease progression, whereas 77H and 85P were associated with no significant contribution to disease progression. CONCLUSIONS Vpr-specific amino acid substitutions may be contributors to clinical outcomes in PLWH, and future studies should consider investigating the Vpr amino acid substitutions highlighted in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levanco K Asia
- Human Metabolomics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Esmé Jansen Van Vuren
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.,South African Medical Research Council: Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Monray E Williams
- Human Metabolomics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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4
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Shrestha J, Santerre M, Allen CNS, Arjona SP, Merali C, Mukerjee R, Chitrala KN, Park J, Bagashev A, Bui V, Eugenin EA, Merali S, Kaul M, Chin J, Sawaya BE. HIV-1 gp120 Impairs Spatial Memory Through Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:811481. [PMID: 35615594 PMCID: PMC9124804 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.811481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain an unsolved problem that persists despite using antiretroviral therapy. We have obtained data showing that HIV-gp120 protein contributes to neurodegeneration through metabolic reprogramming. This led to decreased ATP levels, lower mitochondrial DNA copy numbers, and loss of mitochondria cristae, all-important for mitochondrial biogenesis. gp120 protein also disrupted mitochondrial movement and synaptic plasticity. Searching for the mechanisms involved, we found that gp120 alters the cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation on serine residue 133 necessary for its function as a transcription factor. Since CREB regulates the promoters of PGC1α and BDNF genes, we found that CREB dephosphorylation causes PGC1α and BDNF loss of functions. The data was validated in vitro and in vivo. The negative effect of gp120 was alleviated in cells and animals in the presence of rolipram, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase protein 4 (PDE4), restoring CREB phosphorylation. We concluded that HIV-gp120 protein contributes to HAND via inhibition of CREB protein function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Shrestha
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Maryline Santerre
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Charles N. S. Allen
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sterling P. Arjona
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Carmen Merali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ruma Mukerjee
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Jin Park
- Memory and Brain Research Center, Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Asen Bagashev
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Viet Bui
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Eliseo A. Eugenin
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Salim Merali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Marcus Kaul
- Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Jeannie Chin
- Memory and Brain Research Center, Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bassel E. Sawaya
- Molecular Studies of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Cancer and Cell Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Bassel E. Sawaya,
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5
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Ruhanya V, Jacobs GB, Paul RH, Joska JA, Seedat S, Nyandoro G, Glashoff RH, Engelbrecht S. HIV-1 subtype C Tat exon-1 amino acid residue 24K is a signature for neurocognitive impairment. J Neurovirol 2022; 28:392-403. [PMID: 35394614 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-022-01073-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Variation and differential selection pressures on Tat genes have been shown to alter the biological function of the protein, resulting in pathological consequences in a number of organs including the brain. We evaluated the impact of genetic variation and selection pressure on 147 HIV-1 subtype C Tat exon 1 sequences from monocyte-depleted peripheral lymphocytes on clinical diagnosis of neurocognitive impairment. Genetic analyses identified two signature amino acid residues, lysine at codon 24 (24K) with a frequency of 43.4% and arginine at codon 29 (29R) with a frequency of 34.0% in individuals with HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. The analyses also revealed two signature residues, asparagine, 24 N (31.9%), and histidine, 29H (21.3%), in individuals without neurocognitive impairment. Both codons, 24 and 29, were associated with high entropy but only codon 29 was under positive selection. The presence of signature K24 increased by 2.08 times the risk of neurocognitive impairment, 3.15 times higher proviral load, and 69% lower absolute CD4 T-cell count compared to those without the signature. The results support a linkage between HIV-1 C Tat N24K polymorphism, proviral load, immunosuppression, and neurocognitive impairment. The signature may induce more neurotoxic effects, which contributes to establishment and severity of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vurayai Ruhanya
- Division of Medical Virology, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Avenue, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa. .,Department of Medical Microbiology, Harare, Zimbabwe.
| | - Graeme Brendon Jacobs
- Division of Medical Virology, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Avenue, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
| | - Robert H Paul
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Missouri-St Louis, University Boulevard, St Louis, USA
| | - John A Joska
- MRC Unit of Anxiety & Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Soraya Seedat
- MRC Unit of Anxiety & Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Richard H Glashoff
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.,National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Tygerberg Business Unit, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Susan Engelbrecht
- Division of Medical Virology, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Avenue, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.,National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Tygerberg Business Unit, Cape Town, South Africa
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6
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Ruhanya V, Jacobs GB, Paul R, Joska J, Seedat S, Nyandoro G, Engelbrecht S, Glashoff RH. Plasma Cytokine Levels As Predictors of Global and Domain-Specific Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Neurocognitive Impairment in Treatment-Naive Individuals. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2021; 41:153-160. [PMID: 33885338 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2020.0251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system dysfunction, associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, remains a significant clinical concern, affecting at least 50% of infected people. Imbalances in cytokine expression levels have been linked to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma cytokine levels as predictor neurocognitive impairment in HIV infection using a multiplex profiling kit. Stepwise regression model was used to identify cytokine biomarkers of overall and domain-specific cognitive performance. Higher interleukin (IL)-2 (β = 0.04; P = 0.001) and eotaxin (β = 0.01; P = 0.017) were predictors of global neurocognitive, whereas higher IL-5 (β = 0.005; P = 0.007) was negative predictor of global cognitive deficit. IL-2 was a negative predictor of most cognitive domain functions, including recall (β = 0.24; P = 0.005), recognition (β = 0.04; P = 0.026), mental control (β = 0.38; P = 0.005), symbol search (β = -0.55; P = 0.001), and digital symbol (β = -0.79; P = 0.019). IL-6 was associated with 3 impaired domains, mental processing (β = -0.468; P = 0.027), recognition (β = -0.044; P = 0.012), and learning (β = 0.02668; P = 0.020) These results show that plasma cytokines/chemokines may serve as markers of neurocognitive impairment in HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vurayai Ruhanya
- Division of Medical Virology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Graeme B Jacobs
- Division of Medical Virology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robert Paul
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Missouri-St. Louis, University Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - John Joska
- MRC Unit of Anxiety and Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Soraya Seedat
- MRC Unit of Anxiety and Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - George Nyandoro
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Susan Engelbrecht
- Division of Medical Virology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.,National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Tygerberg Business Unity, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard H Glashoff
- National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Tygerberg Business Unity, Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Medical Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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7
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Williams ME, Zulu SS, Stein DJ, Joska JA, Naudé PJW. Signatures of HIV-1 subtype B and C Tat proteins and their effects in the neuropathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairments. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 136:104701. [PMID: 31837421 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-associated neurocognitive impairments (HANI) are a spectrum of neurological disorders due to the effects of HIV-1 on the central nervous system (CNS). The HIV-1 subtypes; HIV-1 subtype B (HIV-1B) and HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) are responsible for the highest prevalence of HANI and HIV infections respectively. The HIV transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein is a major contributor to the neuropathogenesis of HIV. The effects of the Tat protein on cells of the CNS is determined by the subtype-associated amino acid sequence variations. The extent to which the sequence variation between Tat-subtypes contribute to underlying mechanisms and neurological outcomes are not clear. In this review of the literature, we discuss how amino acid variations between HIV-1B Tat (TatB) and HIV-1C Tat (TatC) proteins contribute to the potential underlying neurobiological mechanisms of HANI. Tat-C is considered to be a more effective transactivator, whereas Tat-B may exert increased neurovirulence, including neuronal apoptosis, monocyte infiltration into the brain, (neuro)inflammation, oxidative stress and blood-brain barrier damage. These findings support the premise that Tat variants from different HIV-1 subtypes may direct neurovirulence and neurological outcomes in HANI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monray E Williams
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health and Neuroscience Institute, Brain Behaviour Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Simo S Zulu
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health and Neuroscience Institute, Brain Behaviour Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dan J Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health and Neuroscience Institute, Brain Behaviour Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; SAMRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders and Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - John A Joska
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Petrus J W Naudé
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health and Neuroscience Institute, Brain Behaviour Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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A Naturally Occurring Polymorphism in the HIV-1 Tat Basic Domain Inhibits Uptake by Bystander Cells and Leads to Reduced Neuroinflammation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3308. [PMID: 30824746 PMCID: PMC6397180 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39531-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 Tat protein contributes to HIV-neuropathogenesis in several ways including its ability to be taken up by uninfected bystander CNS cells and to activate inflammatory host genes causing synaptic injury. Here, we report that in the globally dominant HIV-1 clade C, Tat displays a naturally occurring polymorphism, R57S, in its basic domain, which mediates cellular uptake. We examined the effect of this polymorphism on Tat uptake and its consequences for cellular gene transactivation. In decapeptides corresponding to the basic domain, a R57S substitution caused up to a 70% reduction in uptake. We also used a transcellular Tat transactivation assay, where we expressed Tat proteins of HIV-1 clade B (Tat-B) or C (Tat-C) or their position 57 variants in HeLa cells. We quantified the secreted Tat proteins and measured their uptake by TZM-bl cells, which provide readout via an HIV-1 Tat-responsive luciferase gene. Transactivation by Tat-B was significantly reduced by R57S substitution, while that of Tat-C was enhanced by the reciprocal S57R substitution. Finally, we exposed microglia to Tat variants and found that R57 is required for maximal neuroinflammation. The R57S substitution dampened this response. Thus, genetic variations can modulate the ability of HIV-1 Tat to systemically disseminate neuroinflammation.
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9
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Rao VR, Eugenin EA, Prasad VR. Evaluating the Role of Viral Proteins in HIV-Mediated Neurotoxicity Using Primary Human Neuronal Cultures. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1354:367-376. [PMID: 26714725 PMCID: PMC5050920 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3046-3_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite the inability of HIV-1 to infect neurons, over half of the HIV-1-infected population in the USA suffers from neurocognitive dysfunction. HIV-infected immune cells in the periphery enter the central nervous system by causing a breach in the blood-brain barrier. The damage to the neurons is mediated by viral and host toxic products released by activated and infected immune and glial cells. To evaluate the toxicity of any viral isolate, viral protein, or host inflammatory protein, we describe a protocol to assess the neuronal apoptosis and synaptic compromise in primary cultures of human neurons and astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasudev R Rao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Eliseo A Eugenin
- Public Health Research Institute (PHRI), Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Vinayaka R Prasad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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10
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Dara J, Dow A, Cromwell E, Sturdevant CB, Mallewa M, Swanstrom R, Van Rie A, Prasad VR. Multivariable analysis to determine if HIV-1 Tat dicysteine motif is associated with neurodevelopmental delay in HIV-infected children in Malawi. Behav Brain Funct 2015; 11:38. [PMID: 26678821 PMCID: PMC4683967 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-015-0083-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HIV-1 Tat protein is implicated in HIV-neuropathogenesis. Tat C31S polymorphism (TatCS) has been associated with milder neuropathology in vitro and in animal models but this has not been addressed in a cohort of HIV-infected adults or children. Methods HIV viral load (VL) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were determined and plasma HIV tat gene was sequenced. Neurodevelopmental assessment was performed using Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (BSID-III), with scores standardized to Malawian norms. The association between TatCS and BSID-III scores was evaluated using multivariate linear regression. Results Neurodevelopmental assessment and HIV tat genotyping were available for 33 children. Mean age was 19.4 (SD 7.1) months, mean log VL was 5.9 copies/mL (SD 0.1) in plasma and 3.9 copies/mL (SD 0.9) in CSF. The prevalence of TatCC was 27 %. Z-scores for BSID-III subtests ranged from −1.3 to −3.9. TatCC was not associated with higher BSID-III z-scores. Conclusions The hypothesis of milder neuropathology in individuals infected with HIV TatCS was not confirmed in this small cohort of Malawian children. Future studies of tat genotype and neurocognitive disorder should be performed using larger sample sizes and investigate if this finding is due to differences in HIV neuropathogenesis between children and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmeen Dara
- Department of Pediatrics, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
| | - Anna Dow
- UNC School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Cromwell
- UNC School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | | | - Macpherson Mallewa
- Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust and Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
| | - Ronald Swanstrom
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Annelies Van Rie
- UNC School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Vinayaka R Prasad
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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11
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Abstract
In the era of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) account for 40 to 56% of all HIV+ cases. During the acute stage of HIV-1 infection (<6 months), the virus invades and replicates within the central nervous system (CNS). Compared to peripheral tissues, the local CNS cell population expresses distinct levels of chemokine receptors, which levels exert selective pressure on the invading virus. HIV-1 envelope (env) sequences recovered from the brains and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of neurocognitively impaired HIV+ subjects often display higher nucleotide variability as compared to non-impaired HIV+ subjects. Specifically, env evolution provides HIV-1 with the strategies to evade host immune response, to reduce chemokine receptor dependence, to increase co-receptor binding efficiency, and to potentiate neurotoxicity. The evolution of env within the CNS leads to changes that may result in the emergence of novel isolates with neurotoxic and neurovirulent features. However, whether specific factors of HIV-1 evolution lead to the emergence of neurovirulent and neurotropic isolates remains ill-defined. HIV-1 env evolution is an ongoing phenomenon that occurs independently of neurological and neurocognitive disease severity; thus HIV env evolution may play a pivotal and reciprocal role in the etiology of HAND. Despite the use of cART, the reactivation of latent viral reservoirs represents a clinical challenge because of the replenishment of the viral pool that may subsequently lead to persistent infection. Therefore, gaining a more complete understanding of how HIV-1 env evolves over the course of the disease should be considered for the development of future therapies aimed at controlling CNS burden, diminishing persistent viremia, and eradicating viral reservoirs. Here we review the current literature on the role of HIV-1 env evolution in the setting of HAND disease progression and on the impact of cART on the dynamics of viral evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabián J Vázquez-Santiago
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University- School of Medicine / Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
| | - Vanessa Rivera-Amill
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University- School of Medicine / Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00716, USA
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12
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Arenaccio C, Manfredi F, Anticoli S, Chiozzini C, Federico M. Uncovering the role of defective HIV-1 in spreading viral infection. Future Virol 2015. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl.15.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Defective HIV-1 genomes populate blood cells of HIV-1 infected patients, especially during HAART treatment. They can express viral proteins which, if released, may induce bystander effects favoring viral spread. Here, we review recent literature regarding the effects of extracellular HIV-1 proteins which can act as effectors of transcriptionally active, defective HIV-1, including Gag p17, Env gp120, Vpr, Tat and Nef. It has been very recently described that, different to the other HIV products, the bystander effects of Nef can be mediated by exosomes, that is, nanovesicles constitutively released by all cell types. Exosomes from Nef-expressing cells induce cell activation and HIV-1 susceptibility in resting CD4+ T lymphocytes in a TNF-α-dependent way. This mechanism likely contributes to virus persistence in HAART-treated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Simona Anticoli
- National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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