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Caetano DG, Napoleão-Pêgo P, Villela LM, Côrtes FH, Cardoso SW, Hoagland B, Grinsztejn B, Veloso VG, De-Simone SG, Guimarães ML. Patterns of Diversity and Humoral Immunogenicity for HIV-1 Antisense Protein (ASP). Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:771. [PMID: 39066409 PMCID: PMC11281420 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12070771] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 has an antisense gene overlapping env that encodes the ASP protein. ASP functions are still unknown, but it has been associated with gp120 in the viral envelope and membrane of infected cells, making it a potential target for immune response. Despite this, immune response patterns against ASP are poorly described and can be influenced by the high genetic variability of the env gene. To explore this, we analyzed 100k HIV-1 ASP sequences from the Los Alamos HIV sequence database using phylogenetic, Shannon entropy (Hs), and logo tools to study ASP variability in worldwide and Brazilian sequences from the most prevalent HIV-1 subtypes in Brazil (B, C, and F1). Data obtained in silico guided the design and synthesis of 15-mer overlapping peptides through spot synthesis on cellulose membranes. Peptide arrays were screened to assess IgG and IgM responses in pooled plasma samples from HIV controllers and individuals with acute or recent HIV infection. Excluding regions with low alignment accuracy, several sites with higher variability (Hs > 1.5) were identified among the datasets (25 for worldwide sequences, 20 for Brazilian sequences). Among sites with Hs < 1.5, sequence logos allowed the identification of 23 other sites with subtype-specific signatures. Altogether, amino acid variations with frequencies > 20% in the 48 variable sites identified were included in 92 peptides, divided into 15 sets, representing near full-length ASP. During the immune screening, the strongest responses were observed in three sets, one in the middle and one at the C-terminus of the protein. While some sets presented variations potentially associated with epitope displacement between IgG and IgM targets and subtype-specific signatures appeared to impact the level of response for some peptides, signals of cross-reactivity were observed for some sets despite the presence of B/C/F1 signatures. Our data provides a map of ASP regions preferentially targeted by IgG and IgM responses. Despite B/C/F1 subtype signatures in ASP, the amino acid variation in some areas preferentially targeted by IgM and IgG did not negatively impact the response against regions with higher immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Gama Caetano
- AIDS and Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil (M.L.G.)
| | - Paloma Napoleão-Pêgo
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics Laboratory (LEMS), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Larissa Melo Villela
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics Laboratory (LEMS), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Heloise Côrtes
- AIDS and Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil (M.L.G.)
| | - Sandra Wagner Cardoso
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Brenda Hoagland
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Grinsztejn
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Valdilea Gonçalves Veloso
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Salvatore Giovanni De-Simone
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics Laboratory (LEMS), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Population Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Program of Post-Graduation on Science and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 22040-036, Brazil
| | - Monick Lindenmeyer Guimarães
- AIDS and Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil (M.L.G.)
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Roesmann F, Müller L, Klaassen K, Heß S, Widera M. Interferon-Regulated Expression of Cellular Splicing Factors Modulates Multiple Levels of HIV-1 Gene Expression and Replication. Viruses 2024; 16:938. [PMID: 38932230 PMCID: PMC11209495 DOI: 10.3390/v16060938] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Type I interferons (IFN-Is) are pivotal in innate immunity against human immunodeficiency virus I (HIV-1) by eliciting the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), which encompass potent host restriction factors. While ISGs restrict the viral replication within the host cell by targeting various stages of the viral life cycle, the lesser-known IFN-repressed genes (IRepGs), including RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), affect the viral replication by altering the expression of the host dependency factors that are essential for efficient HIV-1 gene expression. Both the host restriction and dependency factors determine the viral replication efficiency; however, the understanding of the IRepGs implicated in HIV-1 infection remains greatly limited at present. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding regarding the impact of the RNA-binding protein families, specifically the two families of splicing-associated proteins SRSF and hnRNP, on HIV-1 gene expression and viral replication. Since the recent findings show specifically that SRSF1 and hnRNP A0 are regulated by IFN-I in various cell lines and primary cells, including intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we particularly discuss their role in the context of the innate immunity affecting HIV-1 replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Roesmann
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 40, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lisa Müller
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Katleen Klaassen
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 40, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stefanie Heß
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 40, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marek Widera
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 40, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Uzay B, Bahadır-Varol A, Hökelekli FÖ, Yılmaz M, Esen EC, Başar K, Ayhan Y, Dalkara T, Eren-Koçak E. FGF2 gene's antisense protein, NUDT6, plays a depressogenic role by promoting inflammation and suppressing neurogenesis without altering FGF2 signalling. J Physiol 2024; 602:1427-1442. [PMID: 38468384 DOI: 10.1113/jp285479] [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: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) is involved in the regulation of affective behaviour and shows antidepressant effects through the Akt and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 pathways. Nudix hydrolase 6 (NUDT6) protein is encoded from FGF2 gene's antisense strand and its role in the regulation of affective behaviour is unknown. Here, we overexpressed NUDT6 in the hippocampus and investigated its behavioural effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms affecting the behaviour. We showed that increasing hippocampal NUDT6 results in depression-like behaviour in rats without changing FGF2 levels or activating its downstream effectors, Akt and ERK1/2. Instead, NUDT6 acted by inducing inflammatory signalling, specifically by increasing S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100A9) levels, activating nuclear factor-kappa B-p65 (NF-κB-p65), and elevating microglia numbers along with a reduction in neurogenesis. Our results suggest that NUDT6 could play a role in major depression by inducing a proinflammatory state. This is the first report of an antisense protein acting through a different mechanism of action than regulation of its sense protein. The opposite effects of NUDT6 and FGF2 on depression-like behaviour may serve as a mechanism to fine-tune affective behaviour. Our findings open up new venues for studying the differential regulation and functional interactions of sense and antisense proteins in neural function and behaviour, as well as in neuropsychiatric disorders. KEY POINTS: Hippocampal overexpression of nudix hydrolase 6 (NUDT6), the antisense protein of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), increases depression-like behaviour in rats. Hippocampal NUDT6 overexpression triggers a neuroinflammatory cascade by increasing S100 calcium binding proteinA9 (S100A9) expression and nuclear NF-κB-p65 translocation in neurons, in addition to microglial recruitment and activation. Hippocampal NUDT6 overexpression suppresses neurogenesis. NUDT6 exerts its actions without altering the levels or downstream signalling pathways of FGF2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burak Uzay
- Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Aslıhan Bahadır-Varol
- Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Fatma Özlem Hökelekli
- Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Murat Yılmaz
- Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Emre Cem Esen
- Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Koray Başar
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yavuz Ayhan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Turgay Dalkara
- Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Emine Eren-Koçak
- Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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Prazsák I, Tombácz D, Fülöp Á, Torma G, Gulyás G, Dörmő Á, Kakuk B, McKenzie Spires L, Toth Z, Boldogkői Z. KSHV 3.0: a state-of-the-art annotation of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus transcriptome using cross-platform sequencing. mSystems 2024; 9:e0100723. [PMID: 38206015 PMCID: PMC10878076 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01007-23] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a large, oncogenic DNA virus belonging to the gammaherpesvirus subfamily. KSHV has been extensively studied with various high-throughput RNA-sequencing approaches to map the transcription start and end sites, the splice junctions, and the translation initiation sites. Despite these efforts, the comprehensive annotation of the viral transcriptome remains incomplete. In the present study, we generated a long-read sequencing data set of the lytic and latent KSHV transcriptome using native RNA and direct cDNA-sequencing methods. This was supplemented with Cap Analysis of Gene Expression sequencing based on a short-read platform. We also utilized data sets from previous publications for our analysis. As a result of this combined approach, we have identified a number of novel viral transcripts and RNA isoforms and have either corroborated or improved the annotation of previously identified viral RNA molecules, thereby notably enhancing our comprehension of the transcriptomic architecture of the KSHV genome. We also evaluated the coding capability of transcripts previously thought to be non-coding by integrating our data on the viral transcripts with translatomic information from other publications.IMPORTANCEDeciphering the viral transcriptome of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus is of great importance because we can gain insight into the molecular mechanism of viral replication and pathogenesis, which can help develop potential targets for antiviral interventions. Specifically, the identification of substantial transcriptional overlaps by this work suggests the existence of a genome-wide interference between transcriptional machineries. This finding indicates the presence of a novel regulatory layer, potentially controlling the expression of viral genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- István Prazsák
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Dóra Tombácz
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ádám Fülöp
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Torma
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Gulyás
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ákos Dörmő
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Balázs Kakuk
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Lauren McKenzie Spires
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Zsolt Toth
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Zsolt Boldogkői
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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5
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Prazsák I, Tombácz D, Fülöp Á, Torma G, Gulyás G, Dörmő Á, Kakuk B, Spires LM, Toth Z, Boldogkői Z. KSHV 3.0: A State-of-the-Art Annotation of the Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Transcriptome Using Cross-Platform Sequencing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.21.558842. [PMID: 37790386 PMCID: PMC10542539 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.21.558842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a large, oncogenic DNA virus belonging to the gammaherpesvirus subfamily. KSHV has been extensively studied with various high-throughput RNA-sequencing approaches to map the transcription start and end sites, the splice junctions, and the translation initiation sites. Despite these efforts, the comprehensive annotation of the viral transcriptome remains incomplete. In the present study, we generated a long-read sequencing dataset of the lytic and latent KSHV transcriptome using native RNA and direct cDNA sequencing methods. This was supplemented with CAGE sequencing based on a short-read platform. We also utilized datasets from previous publications for our analysis. As a result of this combined approach, we have identified a number of novel viral transcripts and RNA isoforms and have either corroborated or improved the annotation of previously identified viral RNA molecules, thereby notably enhancing our comprehension of the transcriptomic architecture of the KSHV genome. We also evaluated the coding capability of transcripts previously thought to be non-coding, by integrating our data on the viral transcripts with translatomic information from other publications.
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Affiliation(s)
- István Prazsák
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Dóra Tombácz
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ádám Fülöp
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Torma
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Gulyás
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ákos Dörmő
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Balázs Kakuk
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Lauren McKenzie Spires
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Zsolt Toth
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Zsolt Boldogkői
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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Plant E, Bellefroid M, Van Lint C. A complex network of transcription factors and epigenetic regulators involved in bovine leukemia virus transcriptional regulation. Retrovirology 2023; 20:11. [PMID: 37268923 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-023-00623-w] [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] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) is the etiological agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, a disease characterized by the neoplastic proliferation of B cells in cattle. While most European countries have introduced efficient eradication programs, BLV is still present worldwide and no treatment is available. A major feature of BLV infection is the viral latency, which enables the escape from the host immune system, the maintenance of a persistent infection and ultimately the tumoral development. BLV latency is a multifactorial phenomenon resulting in the silencing of viral genes due to genetic and epigenetic repressions of the viral promoter located in the 5' Long Terminal Repeat (5'LTR). However, viral miRNAs and antisense transcripts are expressed from two different proviral regions, respectively the miRNA cluster and the 3'LTR. These latter transcripts are expressed despite the viral latency affecting the 5'LTR and are increasingly considered to take part in tumoral development. In the present review, we provide a summary of the experimental evidence that has enabled to characterize the molecular mechanisms regulating each of the three BLV transcriptional units, either through cis-regulatory elements or through epigenetic modifications. Additionally, we describe the recently identified BLV miRNAs and antisense transcripts and their implications in BLV-induced tumorigenesis. Finally, we discuss the relevance of BLV as an experimental model for the closely related human T-lymphotropic virus HTLV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Plant
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Maxime Bellefroid
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Carine Van Lint
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041, Gosselies, Belgium.
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Grant-McAuley W, Laeyendecker O, Monaco D, Chen A, Hudelson SE, Klock E, Brookmeyer R, Morrison D, Piwowar-Manning E, Morrison CS, Hayes R, Ayles H, Bock P, Kosloff B, Shanaube K, Mandla N, van Deventer A, Ruczinski I, Kammers K, Larman HB, Eshleman SH. Evaluation of multi-assay algorithms for cross-sectional HIV incidence estimation in settings with universal antiretroviral treatment. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:838. [PMID: 36368950 PMCID: PMC9652879 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07850-0] [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: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multi-assay algorithms (MAAs) are used to estimate population-level HIV incidence and identify individuals with recent infection. Many MAAs use low viral load (VL) as a biomarker for long-term infection. This could impact incidence estimates in settings with high rates of early HIV treatment initiation. We evaluated the performance of two MAAs that do not include VL. METHODS Samples were collected from 219 seroconverters (infected < 1 year) and 4376 non-seroconverters (infected > 1 year) in the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial; 28.8% of seroconverter samples and 73.2% of non-seroconverter samples had VLs ≤ 400 copies/mL. Samples were tested with the Limiting Antigen Avidity assay (LAg) and JHU BioRad-Avidity assays. Antibody reactivity to two HIV peptides was measured using the MSD U-PLEX assay. Two MAAs were evaluated that do not include VL: a MAA that includes the LAg-Avidity assay and BioRad-Avidity assay (LAg + BR) and a MAA that includes the LAg-Avidity assay and two peptide biomarkers (LAg + PepPair). Performance of these MAAs was compared to a widely used MAA that includes LAg and VL (LAg + VL). RESULTS The incidence estimate for LAg + VL (1.29%, 95% CI: 0.97-1.62) was close to the observed longitudinal incidence (1.34% 95% CI: 1.17-1.53). The incidence estimates for the other two MAAs were higher (LAg + BR: 2.56%, 95% CI 2.01-3.11; LAg + PepPair: 2.84%, 95% CI: 1.36-4.32). LAg + BR and LAg + PepPair also misclassified more individuals infected > 2 years as recently infected than LAg + VL (1.2% [42/3483 and 1.5% [51/3483], respectively, vs. 0.2% [6/3483]). LAg + BR classified more seroconverters as recently infected than LAg + VL or LAg + PepPair (80 vs. 58 and 50, respectively) and identified ~ 25% of virally suppressed seroconverters as recently infected. CONCLUSIONS The LAg + VL MAA produced a cross-sectional incidence estimate that was closer to the longitudinal estimate than two MAAs that did not include VL. The LAg + BR MAA classified the greatest number of individual seroconverters as recently infected but had a higher false recent rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Grant-McAuley
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Oliver Laeyendecker
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Monaco
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Athena Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah E Hudelson
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ethan Klock
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ron Brookmeyer
- Department of Biostatistics, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Douglas Morrison
- Department of Public Health Sciences, UC Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Charles S Morrison
- Behavioral, Epidemiologic, and Clinical Sciences, Durham, NC, FHI 360, USA
| | - Richard Hayes
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Helen Ayles
- Zambart, University of Zambia School of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Peter Bock
- Desmond Tutu TB Center, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Barry Kosloff
- Zambart, University of Zambia School of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kwame Shanaube
- Zambart, University of Zambia School of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Nomtha Mandla
- Desmond Tutu TB Center, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Anneen van Deventer
- Desmond Tutu TB Center, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Ingo Ruczinski
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kai Kammers
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - H Benjamin Larman
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susan H Eshleman
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Nakano K, Watanabe T. Tuning Rex rules HTLV-1 pathogenesis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:959962. [PMID: 36189216 PMCID: PMC9523361 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.959962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
HTLV-1 is an oncovirus causing ATL and other inflammatory diseases such as HAM/TSP and HU in about 5% of infected individuals. It is also known that HTLV-1-infected cells maintain a disease-free, immortalized, latent state throughout the lifetimes of about 95% of infected individuals. We believe that the stable maintenance of disease-free infected cells in the carrier is an intrinsic characteristic of HTLV-1 that has been acquired during its evolution in the human life cycle. We speculate that the pathogenesis of the virus is ruled by the orchestrated functions of viral proteins. In particular, the regulation of Rex, the conductor of viral replication rate, is expected to be closely related to the viral program in the early active viral replication followed by the stable latency in HTLV-1 infected T cells. HTLV-1 and HIV-1 belong to the family Retroviridae and share the same tropism, e.g., human CD4+ T cells. These viruses show significant similarities in the viral genomic structure and the molecular mechanism of the replication cycle. However, HTLV-1 and HIV-1 infected T cells show different phenotypes, especially in the level of virion production. We speculate that how the activity of HTLV-1 Rex and its counterpart HIV-1 Rev are regulated may be closely related to the properties of respective infected T cells. In this review, we compare various pathological aspects of HTLV-1 and HIV-1. In particular, we investigated the presence or absence of a virally encoded “regulatory valve” for HTLV-1 Rex or HIV-1 Rev to explore its importance in the regulation of viral particle production in infected T cells. Finally, wereaffirm Rex as the key conductor for viral replication and viral pathogenesis based on our recent study on the novel functional aspects of Rex. Since the activity of Rex is closely related to the viral replication rate, we hypothesize that the “regulatory valve” on the Rex activity may have been selectively evolved to achieve the “scenario” with early viral particle production and the subsequent long, stable deep latency in HTLV-1 infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazumi Nakano
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Kazumi Nakano,
| | - Toshiki Watanabe
- Department of Practical Management of Medical Information, Graduate School of Medicine, St. Marianna University, Kawasaki, Japan
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Deymier S, Louvat C, Fiorini F, Cimarelli A. ISG20: an enigmatic antiviral RNase targeting multiple viruses. FEBS Open Bio 2022; 12:1096-1111. [PMID: 35174977 PMCID: PMC9157404 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon‐stimulated gene 20 kDa protein (ISG20) is a relatively understudied antiviral protein capable of inhibiting a broad spectrum of viruses. ISG20 exhibits strong RNase properties, and it belongs to the large family of DEDD exonucleases, present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. ISG20 was initially characterized as having strong RNase activity in vitro, suggesting that its inhibitory effects are mediated via direct degradation of viral RNAs. This mechanism of action has since been further elucidated and additional antiviral activities of ISG20 highlighted, including direct degradation of deaminated viral DNA and translational inhibition of viral RNA and nonself RNAs. This review focuses on the current understanding of the main molecular mechanisms of viral inhibition by ISG20 and discusses the latest developments on the features that govern specificity or resistance to its action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Séverine Deymier
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon Inserm, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, École Nationale Supérieur de Lyon, U1111, Lyon, France
| | | | | | - Andrea Cimarelli
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université de Lyon Inserm, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, École Nationale Supérieur de Lyon, U1111, Lyon, France
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10
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Pavesi A, Romerio F. Extending the Coding Potential of Viral Genomes with Overlapping Antisense ORFs: A Case for the De Novo Creation of the Gene Encoding the Antisense Protein ASP of HIV-1. Viruses 2022; 14:v14010146. [PMID: 35062351 PMCID: PMC8781085 DOI: 10.3390/v14010146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene overprinting occurs when point mutations within a genomic region with an existing coding sequence create a new one in another reading frame. This process is quite frequent in viral genomes either to maximize the amount of information that they encode or in response to strong selective pressure. The most frequent scenario involves two different reading frames in the same DNA strand (sense overlap). Much less frequent are cases of overlapping genes that are encoded on opposite DNA strands (antisense overlap). One such example is the antisense ORF, asp in the minus strand of the HIV-1 genome overlapping the env gene. The asp gene is highly conserved in pandemic HIV-1 strains of group M, and it is absent in non-pandemic HIV-1 groups, HIV-2, and lentiviruses infecting non-human primates, suggesting that the ~190-amino acid protein that is expressed from this gene (ASP) may play a role in virus spread. While the function of ASP in the virus life cycle remains to be elucidated, mounting evidence from several research groups indicates that ASP is expressed in vivo. There are two alternative hypotheses that could be envisioned to explain the origin of the asp ORF. On one hand, asp may have originally been present in the ancestor of contemporary lentiviruses, and subsequently lost in all descendants except for most HIV-1 strains of group M due to selective advantage. Alternatively, the asp ORF may have originated very recently with the emergence of group M HIV-1 strains from SIVcpz. Here, we used a combination of computational and statistical approaches to study the genomic region of env in primate lentiviruses to shed light on the origin, structure, and sequence evolution of the asp ORF. The results emerging from our studies support the hypothesis of a recent de novo addition of the antisense ORF to the HIV-1 genome through a process that entailed progressive removal of existing internal stop codons from SIV strains to HIV-1 strains of group M, and fine tuning of the codon sequence in env that reduced the chances of new stop codons occurring in asp. Altogether, the study supports the notion that the HIV-1 asp gene encodes an accessory protein, providing a selective advantage to the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Pavesi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy;
| | - Fabio Romerio
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA
- Correspondence:
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11
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Lin E, Panfil AR, Sandel G, Jain P. Novel perspectives on antisense transcription in HIV-1, HTLV-1, and HTLV-2. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1042761. [PMID: 36620051 PMCID: PMC9822710 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1042761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The genome of retroviruses contains two promoter elements (called long terminal repeat or LTR) at the 5' and 3' end of their genome. Although the expression of retroviral genes generally depends on the promoter located in the 5' LTR, the 3' LTR also has promoter activity responsible for producing antisense transcripts. These natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are a class of RNA molecules transcribed from the opposite strand of a protein-coding gene. NATs have been identified in many prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, as well as in human retroviruses such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HTLV-1/2 (human T-cell leukemia virus type 1/2). The antisense transcripts of HIV-1, HTLV-1, and HTLV-2 have been briefly characterized over the past several years. However, a complete appreciation of the role these transcripts play in the virus lifecycle and the cellular factors which regulate their transcription is still lacking. This review provides an overview of antisense transcription in human retroviruses with a specific focus on the MEF-2 family of transcription factors, the function(s) of the antisense protein products, and the application of antisense transcription models in therapeutics against HIV-1 and HTLV-1 in the context of co-infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Amanda R. Panfil
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Center for Retrovirus Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Grace Sandel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Pooja Jain
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Pooja Jain,
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12
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Miller RH, Zimmer A, Moutot G, Mesnard JM, Chazal N. Retroviral Antisense Transcripts and Genes: 33 Years after First Predicted, a Silent Retroviral Revolution? Viruses 2021; 13:2221. [PMID: 34835027 PMCID: PMC8622228 DOI: 10.3390/v13112221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Paradigm shifts throughout the history of microbiology have typically been ignored, or met with skepticism and resistance, by the scientific community. This has been especially true in the field of virology, where the discovery of a "contagium vivum fluidum", or infectious fluid remaining after excluding bacteria by filtration, was initially ignored because it did not coincide with the established view of microorganisms. Subsequent studies on such infectious agents, eventually termed "viruses", were met with skepticism. However, after an abundance of proof accumulated, viruses were eventually acknowledged as defined microbiological entities. Next, the proposed role of viruses in oncogenesis in animals was disputed, as was the unique mechanism of genome replication by reverse transcription of RNA by the retroviruses. This same pattern of skepticism holds true for the prediction of the existence of retroviral "antisense" transcripts and genes. From the time of their discovery, it was thought that retroviruses encoded proteins on only one strand of proviral DNA. However, in 1988, it was predicted that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and other retroviruses, express an antisense protein encoded on the DNA strand opposite that encoding the known viral proteins. Confirmation came quickly with the characterization of the antisense protein, HBZ, of the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and the finding that both the protein and its antisense mRNA transcript play key roles in viral replication and pathogenesis. However, acceptance of the existence, and potential importance, of a corresponding antisense transcript and protein (ASP) in HIV-1 infection and pathogenesis has lagged, despite gradually accumulating theoretical and experimental evidence. The most striking theoretical evidence is the finding that asp is highly conserved in group M viruses and correlates exclusively with subtypes, or clades, responsible for the AIDS pandemic. This review outlines the history of the major shifts in thought pertaining to the nature and characteristics of viruses, and in particular retroviruses, and details the development of the hypothesis that retroviral antisense transcripts and genes exist. We conclude that there is a need to accelerate studies on ASP, and its transcript(s), with the view that both may be important, and overlooked, targets in anti-HIV therapeutic and vaccine strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexis Zimmer
- DHVS—Département d’Histoire des Sciences de la Vie et de la Santé, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Strasbourg, 4 Rue Kirschleger, CEDEX, F-67085 Strasbourg, France;
| | - Gilles Moutot
- Centre d’Etudes Politiques et Sociales (CEPEL), Département de Sciences Humaines et Sociales, Université de Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France;
| | - Jean-Michel Mesnard
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, 1919 Route de Mende, CEDEX 5, 34293 Montpellier, France;
| | - Nathalie Chazal
- Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, 1919 Route de Mende, CEDEX 5, 34293 Montpellier, France;
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13
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Krappinger JC, Bonstingl L, Pansy K, Sallinger K, Wreglesworth NI, Grinninger L, Deutsch A, El-Heliebi A, Kroneis T, Mcfarlane RJ, Sensen CW, Feichtinger J. Non-coding Natural Antisense Transcripts: Analysis and Application. J Biotechnol 2021; 340:75-101. [PMID: 34371054 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Non-coding natural antisense transcripts (ncNATs) are regulatory RNA sequences that are transcribed in the opposite direction to protein-coding or non-coding transcripts. These transcripts are implicated in a broad variety of biological and pathological processes, including tumorigenesis and oncogenic progression. With this complex field still in its infancy, annotations, expression profiling and functional characterisations of ncNATs are far less comprehensive than those for protein-coding genes, pointing out substantial gaps in the analysis and characterisation of these regulatory transcripts. In this review, we discuss ncNATs from an analysis perspective, in particular regarding the use of high-throughput sequencing strategies, such as RNA-sequencing, and summarize the unique challenges of investigating the antisense transcriptome. Finally, we elaborate on their potential as biomarkers and future targets for treatment, focusing on cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian C Krappinger
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signalling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Christian Doppler Laboratory for innovative Pichia pastoris host and vector systems, Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Lilli Bonstingl
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signalling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Stiftingtalstraße 5, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Katrin Pansy
- Division of Haematology, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 24, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Katja Sallinger
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signalling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Stiftingtalstraße 5, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Nick I Wreglesworth
- North West Cancer Research Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Bangor University, LL57 2UW Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Lukas Grinninger
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signalling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Austrian Biotech University of Applied Sciences, Konrad Lorenz-Straße 10, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Alexander Deutsch
- Division of Haematology, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 24, 8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Mozartgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Amin El-Heliebi
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signalling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Stiftingtalstraße 5, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Thomas Kroneis
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signalling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Stiftingtalstraße 5, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Ramsay J Mcfarlane
- North West Cancer Research Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Bangor University, LL57 2UW Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph W Sensen
- BioTechMed-Graz, Mozartgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Institute of Computational Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 14/V, 8010 Graz, Austria; HCEMM Kft., Római blvd. 21, 6723 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Julia Feichtinger
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signalling, Metabolism and Aging, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; Christian Doppler Laboratory for innovative Pichia pastoris host and vector systems, Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 6/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Mozartgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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14
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Gholizadeh Z, Iqbal MS, Li R, Romerio F. The HIV-1 Antisense Gene ASP: The New Kid on the Block. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050513. [PMID: 34067514 PMCID: PMC8156140 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses have developed incredibly creative ways of making a virtue out of necessity, including taking full advantage of their small genomes. Indeed, viruses often encode multiple proteins within the same genomic region by using two or more reading frames in both orientations through a process called overprinting. Complex retroviruses provide compelling examples of that. The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genome expresses sixteen proteins from nine genes that are encoded in the three positive-sense reading frames. In addition, the genome of some HIV-1 strains contains a tenth gene in one of the negative-sense reading frames. The so-called Antisense Protein (ASP) gene overlaps the HIV-1 Rev Response Element (RRE) and the envelope glycoprotein gene, and encodes a highly hydrophobic protein of ~190 amino acids. Despite being identified over thirty years ago, relatively few studies have investigated the role that ASP may play in the virus lifecycle, and its expression in vivo is still questioned. Here we review the current knowledge about ASP, and we discuss some of the many unanswered questions.
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