1
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Fombellida-Lopez C, Berkhout B, Darcis G, Pasternak AO. Persistent HIV-1 transcription during ART: time to reassess its significance? Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:124-132. [PMID: 38502547 PMCID: PMC10990031 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-1 reservoirs persist and reignite viral replication if therapy is interrupted. Persistence of the viral reservoir in people with HIV-1 (PWH) is the main obstacle to an HIV-1 cure. The reservoirs are not transcriptionally silent, and viral transcripts can be detected in most ART-treated individuals. Here, we review the recent progress in the characterization of persistent HIV-1 transcription during ART. RECENT FINDINGS Evidence from several studies indicates that, although cell-associated unspliced (US) HIV-1 RNA is abundantly expressed in ART-treated PWH, intact full-length US transcripts are rare and most US RNA is derived from defective proviruses. The transcription- and translation-competent defective proviruses, previously considered irrelevant, are increasingly being linked to residual HIV-1 pathogenesis under suppressive ART. Recent data suggest a continuous crosstalk between the residual HIV-1 activity under ART and the immune system. Persistent HIV-1 transcription on ART, despite being mostly derived from defective proviruses, predicts viral rebound upon therapy interruption, suggesting its role as an indicator of the strength of the host antiviral immune response that is shaping the viral rebound. SUMMARY In light of the recent findings, the significance of persistent HIV-1 transcription during ART for the long-term health of PWH and the cure research should be reassessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Fombellida-Lopez
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, GIGA-Institute, University of Liège
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gilles Darcis
- Laboratory of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, GIGA-Institute, University of Liège
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Alexander O. Pasternak
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Pellaers E, Denis A, Debyser Z. New latency-promoting agents for a block-and-lock functional cure strategy. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:95-101. [PMID: 38457209 PMCID: PMC10990034 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Currently, HIV-infected patients are treated with antiretroviral therapy. However, when the treatment is interrupted, viral rebound occurs from latently infected cells. Therefore, scientists aim to develop an HIV-1 cure which eradicates or permanently silences the latent reservoir. RECENT FINDINGS Previously, scientists focused on the shock-and-kill cure strategy, which aims to eradicate the latent reservoir using latency-reactivating agents. Limited success shifts the interest towards the block-and-lock cure approach, which aims to achieve a functional cure by "blocking" HIV-1 transcription and "locking" the provirus in a deep latent state, resistant to treatment-interruption. In this strategy, latency promoting agents are used to induce transcriptional silencing and alter the epigenetics environment at the HIV promotor. SUMMARY For the block-and-lock cure strategy to succeed more investigation into the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of HIV-1 gene expression is necessary to design optimal latency-promoting agents. In this review, we will discuss the latency promoting agents that have been described in literature during the past 2 years (2022-2023).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Pellaers
- Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
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3
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Pellaers E, Debyser Z. EDITORIAL: Putting HIV in the big sleep with the block-and-lock strategy. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:93-94. [PMID: 38568102 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Eline Pellaers
- Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
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4
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Kobayashi-Ishihara M, Tsunetsugu-Yokota Y. Post-Transcriptional HIV-1 Latency: A Promising Target for Therapy? Viruses 2024; 16:666. [PMID: 38793548 PMCID: PMC11125802 DOI: 10.3390/v16050666] [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: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) latency represents a significant hurdle in finding a cure for HIV-1 infections, despite tireless research efforts. This challenge is partly attributed to the intricate nature of HIV-1 latency, wherein various host and viral factors participate in multiple physiological processes. While substantial progress has been made in discovering therapeutic targets for HIV-1 transcription, targets for the post-transcriptional regulation of HIV-1 infections have received less attention. However, cumulative evidence now suggests the pivotal contribution of post-transcriptional regulation to the viral latency in both in vitro models and infected individuals. In this review, we explore recent insights on post-transcriptional latency in HIV-1 and discuss the potential of its therapeutic targets, illustrating some host factors that restrict HIV-1 at the post-transcriptional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mie Kobayashi-Ishihara
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
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5
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Izquierdo-Pujol J, Puertas MC, Martinez-Picado J, Morón-López S. Targeting Viral Transcription for HIV Cure Strategies. Microorganisms 2024; 12:752. [PMID: 38674696 PMCID: PMC11052381 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040752] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses viral replication to undetectable levels, reduces mortality and morbidity, and improves the quality of life of people living with HIV (PWH). However, ART cannot cure HIV infection because it is unable to eliminate latently infected cells. HIV latency may be regulated by different HIV transcription mechanisms, such as blocks to initiation, elongation, and post-transcriptional processes. Several latency-reversing (LRA) and -promoting agents (LPA) have been investigated in clinical trials aiming to eliminate or reduce the HIV reservoir. However, none of these trials has shown a conclusive impact on the HIV reservoir. Here, we review the cellular and viral factors that regulate HIV-1 transcription, the potential pharmacological targets and genetic and epigenetic editing techniques that have been or might be evaluated to disrupt HIV-1 latency, the role of miRNA in post-transcriptional regulation of HIV-1, and the differences between the mechanisms regulating HIV-1 and HIV-2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Izquierdo-Pujol
- IrsiCaixa, 08916 Badalona, Spain; (J.I.-P.); (M.C.P.); (J.M.-P.)
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Maria C. Puertas
- IrsiCaixa, 08916 Badalona, Spain; (J.I.-P.); (M.C.P.); (J.M.-P.)
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Martinez-Picado
- IrsiCaixa, 08916 Badalona, Spain; (J.I.-P.); (M.C.P.); (J.M.-P.)
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, School of Medicine, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), 08500 Vic, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Morón-López
- IrsiCaixa, 08916 Badalona, Spain; (J.I.-P.); (M.C.P.); (J.M.-P.)
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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6
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Kuzmina A, Sadhu L, Hasanuzzaman M, Fujinaga K, Schwartz JC, Fackler OT, Taube R. Direct and indirect effects of CYTOR lncRNA regulate HIV gene expression. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012172. [PMID: 38662769 PMCID: PMC11075828 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The implementation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has effectively restricted the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and improved overall clinical outcomes. However, a complete cure for HIV remains out of reach, as the virus persists in a stable pool of infected cell reservoir that is resistant to therapy and thus a main barrier towards complete elimination of viral infection. While the mechanisms by which host proteins govern viral gene expression and latency are well-studied, the emerging regulatory functions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) in the context of T cell activation, HIV gene expression and viral latency have not yet been thoroughly explored. Here, we report the identification of the Cytoskeleton Regulator (CYTOR) long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) as an activator of HIV gene expression that is upregulated following T cell stimulation. Functional studies show that CYTOR suppresses viral latency by directly binding to the HIV promoter and associating with the cellular positive transcription elongation factor (P-TEFb) to activate viral gene expression. CYTOR also plays a global role in regulating cellular gene expression, including those involved in controlling actin dynamics. Depletion of CYTOR expression reduces cytoplasmic actin polymerization in response to T cell activation. In addition, treating HIV-infected cells with pharmacological inhibitors of actin polymerization reduces HIV gene expression. We conclude that both direct and indirect effects of CYTOR regulate HIV gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alona Kuzmina
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
| | - Lopamudra Sadhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Integrative Virology, Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research (CIID), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Md Hasanuzzaman
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Integrative Virology, Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research (CIID), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Koh Fujinaga
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Jacob C. Schwartz
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Oliver T. Fackler
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Integrative Virology, Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research (CIID), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg. Germany
| | - Ran Taube
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
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7
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Fenton AD, Archin N, Turner AM, Joseph S, Moeser M, Margolis DM, Browne EP. A novel high-throughput microwell outgrowth assay for HIV-infected cells. J Virol 2024; 98:e0179823. [PMID: 38376258 PMCID: PMC10949454 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01798-23] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) is effective at suppressing HIV replication, a viral reservoir persists that can reseed infection if ART is interrupted. Curing HIV will require elimination or containment of this reservoir, but the size of the HIV reservoir is highly variable between individuals. To evaluate the size of the HIV reservoir, several assays have been developed, including PCR-based assays for viral DNA, the intact proviral DNA assay, and the quantitative viral outgrowth assay (QVOA). QVOA is the gold standard assay for measuring inducible replication-competent proviruses, but this assay is technically challenging and time-consuming. To begin progress toward a more rapid and less laborious tool for quantifying cells infected with replication-competent HIV, we developed the Microwell Outgrowth Assay, in which infected CD4 T cells are co-cultured with an HIV-detecting reporter cell line in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/polystyrene array of nanoliter-sized wells. Transmission of HIV from infected cells to the reporter cell line induces fluorescent reporter protein expression that is detected by automated scanning across the array. Using this approach, we were able to detect HIV-infected cells from ART-naïve people with HIV (PWH) and from PWH on ART with large reservoirs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that infected cells can be recovered from individual rafts and used to analyze the diversity of viral sequences. Although additional development and optimization will be required for quantifying the reservoir in PWH with small latent reservoirs, this assay may be a useful prototype for microwell assays of infected cells.IMPORTANCEMeasuring the size of the HIV reservoir in people with HIV (PWH) will be important for determining the impact of HIV cure strategies. However, measuring this reservoir is challenging. We report a new method for quantifying HIV-infected cells that involves culturing cells from PWH in an array of microwells with a cell line that detects HIV infection. We show that this approach can detect rare HIV-infected cells and derive detailed virus sequence information for each infected cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D. Fenton
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nancie Archin
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- UNC HIV Cure Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Turner
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- UNC HIV Cure Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sarah Joseph
- UNC HIV Cure Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew Moeser
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - David M. Margolis
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- UNC HIV Cure Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Edward P. Browne
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- UNC HIV Cure Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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8
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Horvath RM, Brumme ZL, Sadowski I. Small molecule inhibitors of transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases impose HIV-1 latency, presenting "block and lock" treatment strategies. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0107223. [PMID: 38319085 PMCID: PMC10923280 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01072-23] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Current antiretroviral therapy for HIV-1 infection does not represent a cure for infection as viral rebound inevitably occurs following discontinuation of treatment. The "block and lock" therapeutic strategy is intended to enforce proviral latency and durably suppress viremic reemergence in the absence of other intervention. The transcription-associated cyclin-dependent protein kinases (tCDKs) are required for expression from the 5´ HIV-1 long-terminal repeat, but the therapeutic potential of inhibiting these kinases for enforcing HIV-1 latency has not been characterized. Here, we expanded previous observations to directly compare the effect of highly selective small molecule inhibitors of CDK7 (YKL-5-124), CDK9 (LDC000067), and CDK8/19 (Senexin A), and found each of these prevented HIV-1 provirus expression at concentrations that did not cause cell toxicity. Inhibition of CDK7 caused cell cycle arrest, whereas CDK9 and CDK8/19 inhibitors did not, and could be continuously administered to establish proviral latency. Upon discontinuation of drug administration, HIV immediately rebounded in cells that had been treated with the CDK9 inhibitor, while proviral latency persisted for several days in cells that had been treated with CDK8/19 inhibitors. These results identify the mediator kinases CDK8/CDK19 as potential "block and lock" targets for therapeutic suppression of HIV-1 provirus expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley M. Horvath
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Molecular Epigenetics Group, LSI, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zabrina L. Brumme
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ivan Sadowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Molecular Epigenetics Group, LSI, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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9
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Amir N, Taube R. Role of long noncoding RNA in regulating HIV infection-a comprehensive review. mBio 2024; 15:e0192523. [PMID: 38179937 PMCID: PMC10865847 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01925-23] [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] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
A complete cure against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains out of reach, as the virus persists in stable cell reservoirs that are resistant to antiretroviral therapy. The key to eliminating these reservoirs lies in deciphering the processes that govern viral gene expression and latency. However, while we comprehensively understand how host proteins influence HIV gene expression and viral latency, the emerging role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the context of T cell activation, HIV gene expression, and viral latency remain unexplored. This review dives into the evolving significance of lncRNAs and their impact on HIV gene expression and viral latency. We provide an overview of the current knowledge regarding how lncRNAs regulate HIV gene expression, categorizing them as either activators or inhibitors of viral gene expression and infectivity. Furthermore, we offer insights into the potential therapeutic applications of lncRNAs in combatting HIV. A deeper understanding of how lncRNAs modulate HIV gene transcription holds promise for developing novel RNA-based therapies to complement existing treatment strategies to eradicate HIV reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Amir
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Negev, Israel
| | - Ran Taube
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Negev, Israel
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10
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Fonseca JA, King AC, Chahroudi A. More than the Infinite Monkey Theorem: NHP Models in the Development of a Pediatric HIV Cure. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2024; 21:11-29. [PMID: 38227162 PMCID: PMC10859349 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-023-00686-6] [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] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW An HIV cure that eliminates the viral reservoir or provides viral control without antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an urgent need in children as they face unique challenges, including lifelong ART adherence and the deleterious effects of chronic immune activation. This review highlights the importance of nonhuman primate (NHP) models in developing an HIV cure for children as these models recapitulate the viral pathogenesis and persistence. RECENT FINDINGS Several cure approaches have been explored in infant NHPs, although knowledge gaps remain. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) show promise for controlling viremia and delaying viral rebound after ART interruption but face administration challenges. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors hold the potential for sustained bNAb expression. Therapeutic vaccination induces immune responses against simian retroviruses but has yet to impact the viral reservoir. Combining immunotherapies with latency reversal agents (LRAs) that enhance viral antigen expression should be explored. Current and future cure approaches will require adaptation for the pediatric immune system and unique features of virus persistence, for which NHP models are fundamental to assess their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jairo A Fonseca
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alexis C King
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ann Chahroudi
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory+Children's Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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11
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Cafaro A, Schietroma I, Sernicola L, Belli R, Campagna M, Mancini F, Farcomeni S, Pavone-Cossut MR, Borsetti A, Monini P, Ensoli B. Role of HIV-1 Tat Protein Interactions with Host Receptors in HIV Infection and Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1704. [PMID: 38338977 PMCID: PMC10855115 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031704] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Each time the virus starts a new round of expression/replication, even under effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), the transactivator of viral transcription Tat is one of the first HIV-1 protein to be produced, as it is strictly required for HIV replication and spreading. At this stage, most of the Tat protein exits infected cells, accumulates in the extracellular matrix and exerts profound effects on both the virus and neighbor cells, mostly of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Through these effects, extracellular Tat contributes to the acquisition of infection, spreading and progression to AIDS in untreated patients, or to non-AIDS co-morbidities in ART-treated individuals, who experience inflammation and immune activation despite virus suppression. Here, we review the role of extracellular Tat in both the virus life cycle and on cells of the innate and adaptive immune system, and we provide epidemiological and experimental evidence of the importance of targeting Tat to block residual HIV expression and replication. Finally, we briefly review vaccine studies showing that a therapeutic Tat vaccine intensifies ART, while its inclusion in a preventative vaccine may blunt escape from neutralizing antibodies and block early events in HIV acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelio Cafaro
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.S.); (L.S.); (R.B.); (M.C.); (F.M.); (S.F.); (M.R.P.-C.); (A.B.); (P.M.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Barbara Ensoli
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.S.); (L.S.); (R.B.); (M.C.); (F.M.); (S.F.); (M.R.P.-C.); (A.B.); (P.M.)
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12
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Mendes EA, Tang Y, Jiang G. The integrated stress response signaling during the persistent HIV infection. iScience 2023; 26:108418. [PMID: 38058309 PMCID: PMC10696111 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) infection is a chronic disease under antiretroviral therapy (ART), during which active HIV replication is effectively suppressed. Stable viral reservoirs are established early in infection and cannot be eradicated in people with HIV (PWH) by ART alone, which features residual immune inflammation with disease-associated secondary comorbidities. Mammalian cells are equipped with integrated stress response (ISR) machinery to detect intrinsic and extrinsic stresses such as heme deficiency, nutrient fluctuation, the accumulation of unfolded proteins, and viral infection. ISR is the part of the innate immunity that defends against pathogen infection or environmental alteration, thereby maintaining homeostasis to avoid diseases. Here, we describe how this machinery responds to the off-target effects of ART and persistent HIV infection in both the peripheral compartments and the brain. The latter may be important for us to better understand the mechanisms of stable HIV reservoirs and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica A. Mendes
- UNC HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7042, USA
| | - Yuyang Tang
- UNC HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7042, USA
| | - Guochun Jiang
- UNC HIV Cure Center, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases and the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599- 7042, USA
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13
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Tang Y, Behrens RT, St Gelais C, Wu S, Vivekanandan S, Razin E, Fang P, Wu L, Sherer N, Musier-Forsyth K. Human lysyl-tRNA synthetase phosphorylation promotes HIV-1 proviral DNA transcription. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:12111-12123. [PMID: 37933844 PMCID: PMC10711549 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) was previously shown to be re-localized from its normal cytoplasmic location in a multi-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) to the nucleus of HIV-1 infected cells. Nuclear localization depends on S207 phosphorylation but the nuclear function of pS207-LysRS in the HIV-1 lifecycle is unknown. Here, we show that HIV-1 replication was severely reduced in a S207A-LysRS knock-in cell line generated by CRISPR/Cas9; this effect was rescued by S207D-LysRS. LysRS phosphorylation up-regulated HIV-1 transcription, as did direct transfection of Ap4A, an upstream transcription factor 2 (USF2) activator that is synthesized by pS207-LysRS. Overexpressing an MSC-derived peptide known to stabilize LysRS MSC binding inhibited HIV-1 replication. Transcription of HIV-1 proviral DNA and other USF2 target genes was reduced in peptide-expressing cells. We propose that nuclear pS207-LysRS generates Ap4A, leading to activation of HIV-1 transcription. Our results suggest a new role for nuclear LysRS in facilitating HIV-1 replication and new avenues for antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingke Tang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Center for Retrovirus Research, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ryan T Behrens
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Institute for Molecular Virology, & Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Corine St Gelais
- Center for Retrovirus Research, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Siqi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Saravanan Vivekanandan
- Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Inflammation Program, National University of Singapore and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (NUS–HUJ), Singapore
| | - Ehud Razin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Pengfei Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Li Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Nathan Sherer
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Institute for Molecular Virology, & Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Karin Musier-Forsyth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Center for Retrovirus Research, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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Wu F, Simonetti FR. Learning from Persistent Viremia: Mechanisms and Implications for Clinical Care and HIV-1 Cure. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2023; 20:428-439. [PMID: 37955826 PMCID: PMC10719122 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-023-00674-w] [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] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this review, we discuss what persistent viremia has taught us about the biology of the HIV-1 reservoir during antiretroviral therapy (ART). We will also discuss the implications of this phenomenon for HIV-1 cure research and its clinical management. RECENT FINDINGS While residual viremia (RV, 1-3 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml) can be detected in most of people on ART, some individuals experience non-suppressible viremia (NSV, > 20-50 copies/mL) despite optimal adherence. When issues of drug resistance and pharmacokinetics are ruled out, this persistent virus in plasma is the reflection of virus production from clonally expanded CD4+ T cells carrying proviruses. Recent work has shown that a fraction of the proviruses source of NSV are not infectious, due to defects in the 5'-Leader sequence. However, additional viruses and host determinants of NSV are not fully understood. The study of NSV is of prime importance because it represents a challenge for the clinical care of people on ART, and it sheds light on virus-host interactions that could advance HIV-1 remission research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengting Wu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Francesco R Simonetti
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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15
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Pasternak AO, Tsukamoto T, Berkhout B. 'Zombie' proviruses in the spotlight: exploring the dark side of HIV persistence. AIDS 2023; 37:2239-2241. [PMID: 37877277 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander O Pasternak
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tetsuo Tsukamoto
- Department of Health Informatics, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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16
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Behrens RT, Rajashekar JK, Bruce JW, Evans EL, Hansen AM, Salazar-Quiroz N, Simons LM, Ahlquist P, Hultquist JF, Kumar P, Sherer NM. Exploiting a rodent cell block for intrinsic resistance to HIV-1 gene expression in human T cells. mBio 2023; 14:e0042023. [PMID: 37676006 PMCID: PMC10653828 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00420-23] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Unlike humans, mice are unable to support HIV-1 infection. This is due, in part, to a constellation of defined minor, species-specific differences in conserved host proteins needed for viral gene expression. Here, we used precision CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to engineer a "mousified" version of one such host protein, cyclin T1 (CCNT1), in human T cells. CCNT1 is essential for efficient HIV-1 transcription, making it an intriguing target for gene-based inactivation of virus replication. We show that isogenic cell lines engineered to encode CCNT1 bearing a single mouse-informed amino acid change (tyrosine in place of cysteine at position 261) exhibit potent, durable, and broad-spectrum resistance to HIV-1 and other pathogenic lentiviruses, and with no discernible impact on host cell biology. These results provide proof of concept for targeting CCNT1 in the context of one or more functional HIV-1 cure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan T. Behrens
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jyothi Krishnaswamy Rajashekar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - James W. Bruce
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Edward L. Evans
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Amelia M. Hansen
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Natalia Salazar-Quiroz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lacy M. Simons
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Paul Ahlquist
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Judd F. Hultquist
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Priti Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Nathan M. Sherer
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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17
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Horvath RM, Brumme ZL, Sadowski I. CDK8 inhibitors antagonize HIV-1 reactivation and promote provirus latency in T cells. J Virol 2023; 97:e0092323. [PMID: 37671866 PMCID: PMC10537590 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00923-23] [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: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Latent HIV-1 provirus represents the barrier toward a cure for infection and is dependent upon the host RNA Polymerase (Pol) II machinery for reemergence. Here, we find that inhibitors of the RNA Pol II mediator kinases CDK8/19, Senexin A and BRD6989, inhibit induction of HIV-1 expression in response to latency-reversing agents and T cell signaling agonists. These inhibitors were found to impair recruitment of RNA Pol II to the HIV-1 LTR. Furthermore, HIV-1 expression in response to several latency reversal agents was impaired upon disruption of CDK8 by shRNA or gene knockout. However, the effects of CDK8 depletion did not entirely mimic CDK8/19 kinase inhibition suggesting that the mediator kinases are not functionally redundant. Additionally, treatment of CD4+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from people living with HIV-1 and who are receiving antiretroviral therapy with Senexin A inhibited induction of viral replication in response to T cell stimulation by PMA and ionomycin. These observations indicate that the mediator kinases, CDK8 and CDK19, play a significant role for regulation of HIV-1 transcription and that small molecule inhibitors of these enzymes may contribute to therapies designed to promote deep latency involving the durable suppression of provirus expression. IMPORTANCE A cure for HIV-1 infection will require novel therapies that can force elimination of cells that contain copies of the virus genome inserted into the cell chromosome, but which is shut off, or silenced. These are known as latently-infected cells, which represent the main reason why current treatment for HIV/AIDS cannot cure the infection because the virus in these cells is unaffected by current drugs. Our results indicate that chemical inhibitors of Cdk8 also inhibit the expression of latent HIV provirus. Cdk8 is an important enzyme that regulates the expression of genes in response to signals to which cells need to respond and which is produced by a gene that is frequently mutated in cancers. Our observations indicate that Cdk8 inhibitors may be employed in novel therapies to prevent expression from latent provirus, which might eventually enable infected individuals to cease treatment with antiretroviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley M. Horvath
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Epigenetics Group, LSI, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zabrina L. Brumme
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ivan Sadowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Epigenetics Group, LSI, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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18
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Vaidyanathan A, Taylor HE, Hope TJ, D'Aquila RT, Bartom ET, Hultquist JF, Peter ME. Analysis of the Contribution of 6-mer Seed Toxicity to HIV-1-Induced Cytopathicity. J Virol 2023; 97:e0065223. [PMID: 37310263 PMCID: PMC10373551 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00652-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 (HIV) infects CD4+ T cells, the gradual depletion of which can lead to AIDS in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Some cells, however, survive HIV infection and persist as part of the latently infected reservoir that causes recurrent viremia after ART cessation. Improved understanding of the mechanisms of HIV-mediated cell death could lead to a way to clear the latent reservoir. Death induced by survival gene elimination (DISE), an RNA interference (RNAi)-based mechanism, kills cells through short RNAs (sRNAs) with toxic 6-mer seeds (positions 2 to 7 of sRNA). These toxic seeds target the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs, decreasing the expression of hundreds of genes critical for cell survival. In most cells under normal conditions, highly expressed cell-encoded nontoxic microRNAs (miRNAs) block access of toxic sRNAs to the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that mediates RNAi, promoting cell survival. HIV has been shown to inhibit the biogenesis of host miRNAs in multiple ways. We now report that HIV infection of cells deficient in miRNA expression or function results in enhanced RISC loading of an HIV-encoded miRNA HIV-miR-TAR-3p, which can kill cells by DISE through a noncanonical (positions 3 to 8) 6-mer seed. In addition, cellular RISC-bound sRNAs shift to lower seed viability. This also occurs after latent HIV provirus reactivation in J-Lat cells, suggesting independence of permissiveness of cells to viral infection. More precise targeting of the balance between protective and cytotoxic sRNAs could provide new avenues to explore novel cell death mechanisms that could be used to kill latent HIV. IMPORTANCE Several mechanisms by which initial HIV infection is cytotoxic to infected cells have been reported and involve various forms of cell death. Characterizing the mechanisms underlying the long-term survival of certain T cells that become persistent provirus reservoirs is critical to developing a cure. We recently discovered death induced by survival gene elimination (DISE), an RNAi-based mechanism of cell death whereby toxic short RNAs (sRNAs) containing 6-mer seed sequences (exerting 6-mer seed toxicity) targeting essential survival genes are loaded into RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) complexes, resulting in inescapable cell death. We now report that HIV infection in cells with low miRNA expression causes a shift of mostly cellular RISC-bound sRNAs to more toxic seeds. This could prime cells to DISE and is further enhanced by the viral microRNA (miRNA) HIV-miR-TAR-3p, which carries a toxic noncanonical 6-mer seed. Our data provide multiple new avenues to explore novel cell death mechanisms that could be used to kill latent HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparajitha Vaidyanathan
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Harry E. Taylor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Biostatistics, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Thomas J. Hope
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Richard T. D'Aquila
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Elizabeth T. Bartom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Biostatistics, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Judd F. Hultquist
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Marcus E. Peter
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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19
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Zhang C, Zaman LA, Poluektova LY, Gorantla S, Gendelman HE, Dash PK. Humanized Mice for Studies of HIV-1 Persistence and Elimination. Pathogens 2023; 12:879. [PMID: 37513726 PMCID: PMC10383313 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A major roadblock to achieving a cure for human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) is the persistence of latent viral infections in the cells and tissue compartments of an infected human host. Latent HIV-1 proviral DNA persists in resting memory CD4+ T cells and mononuclear phagocytes (MPs; macrophages, microglia, and dendritic cells). Tissue viral reservoirs of both cell types reside in the gut, lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, liver, kidney, skin, adipose tissue, reproductive organs, and brain. However, despite the identification of virus-susceptible cells, several limitations persist in identifying broad latent reservoirs in infected persons. The major limitations include their relatively low abundance, the precise identification of latently infected cells, and the lack of biomarkers for identifying latent cells. While primary MP and CD4+ T cells and transformed cell lines are used to interrogate mechanisms of HIV-1 persistence, they often fail to accurately reflect the host cells and tissue environments that carry latent infections. Given the host specificity of HIV-1, there are few animal models that replicate the natural course of viral infection with any precision. These needs underlie the importance of humanized mouse models as both valuable and cost-effective tools for studying viral latency and subsequently identifying means of eliminating it. In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of humanized mice for studies of viral persistence and latency with an eye toward using these models to test antiretroviral and excision therapeutics. The goals of this research are to use the models to address how and under which circumstances HIV-1 latency can be detected and eliminated. Targeting latent reservoirs for an ultimate HIV-1 cure is the task at hand.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Prasanta K. Dash
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA (S.G.)
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20
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Leite DI, de Castro Bazan Moura S, da Conceição Avelino Dias M, Costa CCP, Machado GP, Pimentel LCF, Branco FSC, Moreira R, Bastos MM, Boechat N. A Review of the Development of Multitarget Molecules against HIV-TB Coinfection Pathogens. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083342. [PMID: 37110574 PMCID: PMC10143421 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) produces the pathologic basis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). An increase in the viral load in the body leads to a decline in the number of T lymphocytes, compromising the patient's immune system. Some opportunistic diseases may result, such as tuberculosis (TB), which is the most common in seropositive patients. Long-term treatment is required for HIV-TB coinfection, and cocktails of drugs for both diseases are used concomitantly. The most challenging aspects of treatment are the occurrence of drug interactions, overlapping toxicity, no adherence to treatment and cases of resistance. Recent approaches have involved using molecules that can act synergistically on two or more distinct targets. The development of multitarget molecules could overcome the disadvantages of the therapies used to treat HIV-TB coinfection. This report is the first review on using molecules with activities against HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) for molecular hybridization and multitarget strategies. Here, we discuss the importance and development of multiple targets as a means of improving adherence to therapy in cases of the coexistence of these pathologies. In this context, several studies on the development of structural entities to treat HIV-TB simultaneously are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Inacio Leite
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos (LASFAR), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos (Farmanguinhos), Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-000, Brazil
| | - Stefany de Castro Bazan Moura
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos (LASFAR), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos (Farmanguinhos), Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-000, Brazil
- Programa de Pos-Graduação em Farmacologia e Química Medicinal, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Maria da Conceição Avelino Dias
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos (LASFAR), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos (Farmanguinhos), Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-000, Brazil
| | - Carolina Catta Preta Costa
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos (LASFAR), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos (Farmanguinhos), Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-000, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Peixoto Machado
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos (LASFAR), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos (Farmanguinhos), Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-000, Brazil
| | - Luiz Claudio Ferreira Pimentel
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos (LASFAR), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos (Farmanguinhos), Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-000, Brazil
| | - Frederico Silva Castelo Branco
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos (LASFAR), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos (Farmanguinhos), Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-000, Brazil
| | - Rui Moreira
- Departamento de Química Medicinal, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Monica Macedo Bastos
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos (LASFAR), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos (Farmanguinhos), Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-000, Brazil
| | - Nubia Boechat
- Laboratorio de Sintese de Farmacos (LASFAR), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Farmacos (Farmanguinhos), Fiocruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco, 100 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-000, Brazil
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de Gea-Grela A, Moreno S. Controversies in the Design of Strategies for the Cure of HIV Infection. Pathogens 2023; 12:322. [PMID: 36839593 PMCID: PMC9961067 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The cure for chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections has been a goal pursued since the antiretroviral therapy that improved the clinical conditions of patients became available. However, the exclusive use of these drugs is not enough to achieve a cure, since the viral load rebounds when the treatment is discontinued, leading to disease progression. There are several theories and hypotheses about the biological foundations that prevent a cure. The main obstacle appears to be the existence of a latent viral reservoir that cannot be eliminated pharmacologically. This concept is the basis of the new strategies that seek a cure, known as kick and kill. However, there are other lines of study that recognize mechanisms of persistent viral replication in patients under effective treatment, and that would modify the current lines of research on the cure of HIV. Given the importance of these concepts, in this work, we propose to review the most recent evidence on these hypotheses, covering both the evidence that is positioned in favor and against, trying to expose what are some of the challenges that remain to be resolved in this field of research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Santiago Moreno
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IRYCIS), Alcalá University, 28034 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28034 Madrid, Spain
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22
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Horvath RM, Dahabieh M, Malcolm T, Sadowski I. TRIM24 controls induction of latent HIV-1 by stimulating transcriptional elongation. Commun Biol 2023; 6:86. [PMID: 36690785 PMCID: PMC9870992 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04484-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Binding of USF1/2 and TFII-I (RBF-2) at conserved sites flanking the HIV-1 LTR enhancer is essential for reactivation from latency in T cells, with TFII-I knockdown rendering the provirus insensitive to T cell signaling. We identified an interaction of TFII-I with the tripartite motif protein TRIM24, and these factors were found to be constitutively associated with the HIV-1 LTR. Similar to the effect of TFII-I depletion, loss of TRIM24 impaired reactivation of HIV-1 in response to T cell signaling. TRIM24 deficiency did not affect recruitment of RNA Pol II to the LTR promoter, but inhibited transcriptional elongation, an effect that was associated with decreased RNA Pol II CTD S2 phosphorylation and impaired recruitment of CDK9. A considerable number of genomic loci are co-occupied by TRIM24/TFII-I, and we found that TRIM24 deletion caused altered T cell immune response, an effect that is facilitated by TFII-I. These results demonstrate a role of TRIM24 for regulation of transcriptional elongation from the HIV-1 promoter, through its interaction with TFII-I, and by recruitment of P-TEFb. Furthermore, these factors co-regulate a significant proportion of genes involved in T cell immune response, consistent with tight coupling of HIV-1 transcriptional activation and T cell signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley M Horvath
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Epigenetics Group, LSI, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
| | - Matthew Dahabieh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Epigenetics Group, LSI, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
| | - Tom Malcolm
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Epigenetics Group, LSI, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
| | - Ivan Sadowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Epigenetics Group, LSI, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
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23
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Mechanism by Which PF-3758309, a Pan Isoform Inhibitor of p21-Activated Kinases, Blocks Reactivation of HIV-1 Latency. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13010100. [PMID: 36671485 PMCID: PMC9855626 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The "block and lock" strategy is one approach that might elicit a sterilizing cure for HIV-1 infection. The "block" refers to a compound's ability to inhibit latent HIV-1 proviral transcription, while the "lock" refers to its capacity to induce permanent proviral silencing. We previously identified PF-3758309, a pan-isoform inhibitor of p21-activated kinases (PAKs), as a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 latency reversal. The goal of this study was to define the mechanism(s) involved. We found that both 24ST1NLESG cells (a cell line model of HIV-1 latency) and purified CD4+ naïve and central memory T cells express high levels of PAK2 and lower levels of PAK1 and PAK4. Knockdown of PAK1 or PAK2, but not PAK4, in 24ST1NLESG cells resulted in a modest, but statistically significant, decrease in the magnitude of HIV-1 latency reversal. Overexpression of PAK1 significantly increased the magnitude of latency reversal. A phospho-protein array analysis revealed that PF-3758309 down-regulates the NF-κB signaling pathway, which provides the most likely mechanism by which PF-3758309 inhibits latency reversal. Finally, we used cellular thermal shift assays combined with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to ascertain whether PF-3758309 off-target binding contributed to its activity. In 24ST1NLESG cells and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PF-3758309 bound to mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 and protein kinase A; however, knockdown of either of these kinases did not impact HIV-1 latency reversal. Collectively, our study suggests that PAK1 and PAK2 play a key role in the maintenance of HIV-1 latency.
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24
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Tumolo MR, Scoditti E, Guarino R, Grassi T, Bagordo F, Sabina S. MIR-29A-3P, MIR-29C-3P, MIR-146B-5P AND MIR-150-5P, Their Target Genes and lncrnas in HIV Infection: A Bioinformatic Study. Curr HIV Res 2023; 21:128-139. [PMID: 37226785 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x21666230524151328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Increasing evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as attractive targets in viral infections, including Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). OBJECTIVE To deepen the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that lead to HIV and provide potential targets for the future development of molecular therapies for its treatment. METHODS Four miRNAs were selected as candidates based on a previous systematic review. A combination of bioinformatic analyses was performed to identify their target genes, lncRNAs and biological processes that regulate them. RESULTS In the constructed miRNA-mRNA network, 193 gene targets are identified. These miRNAs potentially control genes from several important processes, including signal transduction and cancer. LncRNA-XIST, lncRNA-NEAT1 and lncRNA-HCG18 interact with all four miRNAs. CONCLUSION This preliminary result forms the basis for improving reliability in future studies to fully understand the role these molecules and their interactions play in HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rosaria Tumolo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Egeria Scoditti
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Branch of Lecce, Lecce, Italy
| | - Roberto Guarino
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Branch of Lecce, Lecce, Italy
| | - Tiziana Grassi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Francesco Bagordo
- Department of Pharmacy- Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Saverio Sabina
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Branch of Lecce, Lecce, Italy
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Pellaers E, Bhat A, Christ F, Debyser Z. Determinants of Retroviral Integration and Implications for Gene Therapeutic MLV-Based Vectors and for a Cure for HIV-1 Infection. Viruses 2022; 15:32. [PMID: 36680071 PMCID: PMC9861059 DOI: 10.3390/v15010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
To complete their replication cycle, retroviruses need to integrate a DNA copy of their RNA genome into a host chromosome. Integration site selection is not random and is driven by multiple viral and cellular host factors specific to different classes of retroviruses. Today, overwhelming evidence from cell culture, animal experiments and clinical data suggests that integration sites are important for retroviral replication, oncogenesis and/or latency. In this review, we will summarize the increasing knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the integration site selection of the gammaretrovirus MLV and the lentivirus HIV-1. We will discuss how host factors of the integration site selection of retroviruses may steer the development of safer viral vectors for gene therapy. Next, we will discuss how altering the integration site preference of HIV-1 using small molecules could lead to a cure for HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Zeger Debyser
- Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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26
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Medicinal Chemistry of Anti-HIV-1 Latency Chemotherapeutics: Biotargets, Binding Modes and Structure-Activity Relationship Investigation. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 28:molecules28010003. [PMID: 36615199 PMCID: PMC9822059 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The existence of latent viral reservoirs (LVRs), also called latent cells, has long been an acknowledged stubborn hurdle for effective treatment of HIV-1/AIDS. This stable and heterogeneous reservoir, which mainly exists in resting memory CD4+ T cells, is not only resistant to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) but cannot be detected by the immune system, leading to rapid drug resistance and viral rebound once antiviral treatment is interrupted. Accordingly, various functional cure strategies have been proposed to combat this barrier, among which one of the widely accepted and utilized protocols is the so-called 'shock-and-kill' regimen. The protocol begins with latency-reversing agents (LRAs), either alone or in combination, to reactivate the latent HIV-1 proviruses, then eliminates them by viral cytopathic mechanisms (e.g., currently available antiviral drugs) or by the immune killing function of the immune system (e.g., NK and CD8+ T cells). In this review, we focuse on the currently explored small molecular LRAs, with emphasis on their mechanism-directed drug targets, binding modes and structure-relationship activity (SAR) profiles, aiming to provide safer and more effective remedies for treating HIV-1 infection.
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27
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Asamitsu K, Hirokawa T, Okamoto T. Identification of a novel CDK9 inhibitor targeting the intramolecular hidden cavity of CDK9 induced by Tat binding. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277024. [PMCID: PMC9665388 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 transcription is specifically augmented by a transcriptional activator complex composed of Tat, an HIV-1-encoded activator, and the host transcription elongation factor P-TEFb, which is composed of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and cyclin T1. Several observations suggest that P-TEFb is an attractive anti-HIV-1 drug target. However, the long-term cytotoxicity of CDK9 inhibitors hinders their widespread use in HIV-1 therapy. Thus, novel and safe inhibitors are sorely needed. By performing molecular dynamics simulations of the 3D structure of Tat/P-TEFb, we previously identified a unique cavity structure of CDK9, the CDK9 hidden cavity, that is specifically induced by Tat binding. Here, we attempted to identify compounds that fit this cavity and inhibit CDK9 activity by in silico screening. We identified compounds that could inhibit CDK9 activity. One of such compound, 127, showed the strongest inhibitory activity against CDK9. Interestingly, it also inhibited CDK6 to a similar extent. We inspected the amino acid sequence and structural properties of the CDK9 hidden cavity to determine whether it is conserved in other CDKs, such as CDK6. The Ile61, comprising the center of the CDK9 hidden cavity, appears to be crucial for its kinase activity, thus indicating that the identification of the CDK9 hidden cavity may provide vital information for the development of novel CDK9 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Asamitsu
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- * E-mail: (KA); (TH)
| | - Takatsugu Hirokawa
- Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaragi, Japan
- Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaragi, Japan
- * E-mail: (KA); (TH)
| | - Takashi Okamoto
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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28
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Chen M, Li M, Budai MM, Rice AP, Kimata JT, Mohan M, Wang J. Clearance of HIV-1 or SIV reservoirs by promotion of apoptosis and inhibition of autophagy: Targeting intracellular molecules in cure-directed strategies. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 112:1245-1259. [PMID: 35362118 PMCID: PMC9522917 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.4mr0222-606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The reservoirs of the HIV display cellular properties resembling long-lived immune memory cells that could be exploited for viral clearance. Our interest in developing a cure for HIV stems from the studies of immunologic memory against infections. We and others have found that long-lived immune memory cells employ prosurvival autophagy and antiapoptotic mechanisms to protect their longevity. Here, we describe the rationale for the development of an approach to clear HIV-1 by selective elimination of host cells harboring replication-competent HIV (SECH). While reactivation of HIV-1 in the host cells with latency reversing agents (LRAs) induces viral gene expression leading to cell death, LRAs also simultaneously up-regulate prosurvival antiapoptotic molecules and autophagy. Mechanistically, transcription factors that promote HIV-1 LTR-directed gene expression, such as NF-κB, AP-1, and Hif-1α, can also enhance the expression of cellular genes essential for cell survival and metabolic regulation, including Bcl-xL, Mcl-1, and autophagy genes. In the SECH approach, we inhibit the prosurvival antiapoptotic molecules and autophagy induced by LRAs, thereby allowing maximum killing of host cells by the induced HIV-1 proteins. SECH treatments cleared HIV-1 infections in humanized mice in vivo and in HIV-1 patient PBMCs ex vivo. SECH also cleared infections by the SIV in rhesus macaque PBMCs ex vivo. Research efforts are underway to improve the efficacy and safety of SECH and to facilitate the development of SECH as a therapeutic approach for treating people with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chen
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Min Li
- Immunobiology and Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Marietta M. Budai
- Immunobiology and Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew P. Rice
- Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jason T. Kimata
- Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mahesh Mohan
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Jin Wang
- Immunobiology and Transplant Science Center, Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
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29
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Ezeonwumelu IJ, García-Vidal E, Felip E, Puertas MC, Oriol-Tordera B, Gutiérrez-Chamorro L, Gohr A, Ruiz-Riol M, Massanella M, Clotet B, Martinez-Picado J, Badia R, Riveira-Muñoz E, Ballana E. IRF7 expression correlates with HIV latency reversal upon specific blockade of immune activation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1001068. [PMID: 36131914 PMCID: PMC9484258 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1001068] [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: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The persistence of latent HIV reservoirs allows for viral rebound upon antiretroviral therapy interruption, hindering effective HIV-1 cure. Emerging evidence suggests that modulation of innate immune stimulation could impact viral latency and contribute to the clearing of HIV reservoir. Here, the latency reactivation capacity of a subclass of selective JAK2 inhibitors was characterized as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for HIV-1 cure. Notably, JAK2 inhibitors reversed HIV-1 latency in non-clonal lymphoid and myeloid in vitro models of HIV-1 latency and also ex vivo in CD4+ T cells from ART+ PWH, albeit its function was not dependent on JAK2 expression. Immunophenotypic characterization and whole transcriptomic profiling supported reactivation data, showing common gene expression signatures between latency reactivating agents (LRA; JAK2i fedratinib and PMA) in contrast to other JAK inhibitors, but with significantly fewer affected gene sets in the pathway analysis. In depth evaluation of differentially expressed genes, identified a significant upregulation of IRF7 expression despite the blockade of the JAK-STAT pathway and downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Moreover, IRF7 expression levels positively correlated with HIV latency reactivation capacity of JAK2 inhibitors and also other common LRAs. Collectively, these results represent a promising step towards HIV eradication by demonstrating the potential of innate immune modulation for reducing the viral reservoir through a novel pathway driven by IRF7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifeanyi Jude Ezeonwumelu
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Edurne García-Vidal
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Eudald Felip
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO)-Badalona, B-ARGO (Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology) and IGTP (Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Maria C. Puertas
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bruna Oriol-Tordera
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Lucía Gutiérrez-Chamorro
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - André Gohr
- Scientific Computing Facility, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marta Ruiz-Riol
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Massanella
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bonaventura Clotet
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic – UCC), Vic, Spain
| | - Javier Martinez-Picado
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia (UVic – UCC), Vic, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roger Badia
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Eva Riveira-Muñoz
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Ester Ballana
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute – IrsiCaixa and Health Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
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30
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Chen J, Zhou T, Zhang Y, Luo S, Chen H, Chen D, Li C, Li W. The reservoir of latent HIV. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:945956. [PMID: 35967854 PMCID: PMC9368196 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.945956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The persistence of latent reservoir of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is currently the major challenge in curing HIV infection. After HIV infects the human body, the latent HIV is unable to be recognized by the body’s immune system. Currently, the widely adopted antiretroviral therapy (ART) is also unble to eliminate it, thus hindering the progress of HIV treatment. This review discusses the existence of latent HIV vault for HIV treatment, its formation and factors affecting its formation, cell, and tissue localization, methods for detection and removing latent reservoir, to provide a comprehensive understanding of latent HIV vault, in order to assist in the future research and play a potential role in achieving HIV treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Zhou
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shumin Luo
- Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Dexi Chen
- Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuanyun Li
- Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Chuanyun Li, ; Weihua Li,
| | - Weihua Li
- Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Chuanyun Li, ; Weihua Li,
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31
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Abana CZY, Lamptey H, Bonney EY, Kyei GB. HIV cure strategies: which ones are appropriate for Africa? Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:400. [PMID: 35794316 PMCID: PMC9259540 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04421-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Although combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced mortality and improved lifespan for people living with HIV, it does not provide a cure. Patients must be on ART for the rest of their lives and contend with side effects, unsustainable costs, and the development of drug resistance. A cure for HIV is, therefore, warranted to avoid the limitations of the current therapy and restore full health. However, this cure is difficult to find due to the persistence of latently infected HIV cellular reservoirs during suppressive ART. Approaches to HIV cure being investigated include boosting the host immune system, genetic approaches to disable co-receptors and the viral genome, purging cells harboring latent HIV with latency-reversing latency agents (LRAs) (shock and kill), intensifying ART as a cure, preventing replication of latent proviruses (block and lock) and boosting T cell turnover to reduce HIV-1 reservoirs (rinse and replace). Since most people living with HIV are in Africa, methods being developed for a cure must be amenable to clinical trials and deployment on the continent. This review discusses the current approaches to HIV cure and comments on their appropriateness for Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Zaab-Yen Abana
- Department of Virology, College of Health Sciences, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Helena Lamptey
- Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Evelyn Y Bonney
- Department of Virology, College of Health Sciences, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - George B Kyei
- Department of Virology, College of Health Sciences, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Medical and Scientific Research Center, University of Ghana Medical Centre, Accra, Ghana.
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32
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Kuniholm J, Coote C, Henderson AJ. Defective HIV-1 genomes and their potential impact on HIV pathogenesis. Retrovirology 2022; 19:13. [PMID: 35764966 PMCID: PMC9238239 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-022-00601-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Defective HIV-1 proviruses represent a population of viral genomes that are selected for by immune pressures, and clonally expanded to dominate the persistent HIV-1 proviral genome landscape. There are examples of RNA and protein expression from these compromised genomes which are generated by a variety of mechanisms. Despite the evidence that these proviruses are transcribed and translated, their role in HIV pathogenesis has not been fully explored. The potential for these genomes to participate in immune stimulation is particularly relevant considering the accumulation of cells harboring these defective proviruses over the course of antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV. The expression of defective proviruses in different cells and tissues could drive innate sensing mechanisms and inflammation. They may also alter antiviral T cell responses and myeloid cell functions that directly contribute to HIV-1 associated chronic comorbidities. Understanding the impact of these defective proviruses needs to be considered as we advance cure strategies that focus on targeting the diverse population of HIV-1 proviral genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Kuniholm
- Department of Microbiology, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02116, USA
| | - Carolyn Coote
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02116, USA
| | - Andrew J Henderson
- Department of Microbiology, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02116, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02116, USA.
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33
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Liu C, Ding Q, Kong X. Integrated Analysis of the miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network Involved in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040407. [PMID: 35456082 PMCID: PMC9031331 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is an array of neurocognitive changes associated with HIV infection, and the roles of microRNAs in HAND have not yet been completely revealed. Based on published data and publicly available databases, we constructed an integrated miRNA-mRNA network involved in HAND. Bioinformatics analyses, including gene ontology, network analysis, and KEGG pathway analysis, were applied for further study of the network and the genes of the network. The axon guidance KEGG pathway, three genes NTNG1, EFNB2, CXCL12, and 17 miRNAs which regulate these genes are spotlighted in our study. This study provides new perspectives to the knowledge of miRNAs’ roles in the progression of HAND, and our findings provide potential therapeutic targets and clues of HAND.
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34
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Varco-Merth BD, Brantley W, Marenco A, Duell DD, Fachko DN, Richardson B, Busman-Sahay K, Shao D, Flores W, Engelman K, Fukazawa Y, Wong SW, Skalsky RL, Smedley J, Axthelm MK, Lifson JD, Estes JD, Edlefsen PT, Picker L, Cameron CM, Henrich TJ, Okoye AA. Rapamycin limits CD4+ T cell proliferation in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rhesus macaques on antiretroviral therapy. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:156063. [PMID: 35316218 PMCID: PMC9106346 DOI: 10.1172/jci156063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Proliferation of latently infected CD4+ T cells with replication-competent proviruses is an important mechanism contributing to HIV persistence during antiretroviral therapy (ART). One approach to targeting this latent cell expansion is to inhibit mTOR, a regulatory kinase involved with cell growth, metabolism, and proliferation. Here, we determined the effects of chronic mTOR inhibition with rapamycin with or without T cell activation in SIV-infected rhesus macaques (RMs) on ART. Rapamycin perturbed the expression of multiple genes and signaling pathways important for cellular proliferation and substantially decreased the frequency of proliferating CD4+ memory T cells (TM cells) in blood and tissues. However, levels of cell-associated SIV DNA and SIV RNA were not markedly different between rapamycin-treated RMs and controls during ART. T cell activation with an anti-CD3LALA antibody induced increases in SIV RNA in plasma of RMs on rapamycin, consistent with SIV production. However, upon ART cessation, both rapamycin and CD3LALA–treated and control-treated RMs rebounded in less than 12 days, with no difference in the time to viral rebound or post-ART viral load set points. These results indicate that, while rapamycin can decrease the proliferation of CD4+ TM cells, chronic mTOR inhibition alone or in combination with T cell activation was not sufficient to disrupt the stability of the SIV reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin D Varco-Merth
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - William Brantley
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Alejandra Marenco
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Derick D Duell
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Devin N Fachko
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Brian Richardson
- Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, United States of America
| | - Kathleen Busman-Sahay
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Danica Shao
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Walter Flores
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, United States of America
| | - Kathleen Engelman
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, United States of America
| | - Yoshinori Fukazawa
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Scott W Wong
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Rebecca L Skalsky
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Jeremy Smedley
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Michael K Axthelm
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D Lifson
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory, Frederick, United States of America
| | - Jacob D Estes
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Paul T Edlefsen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, United States of America
| | - Louis Picker
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
| | - Cheryl Ma Cameron
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, United States of America
| | - Timothy J Henrich
- Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Afam A Okoye
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, United States of America
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35
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Khan N, Halcrow PW, Afghah Z, Baral A, Geiger J, Chen X. HIV-1 Tat endocytosis and retention in endolysosomes affects HIV-1 Tat-induced LTR transactivation in astrocytes. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22184. [PMID: 35113458 PMCID: PMC9627655 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101722r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The presence of latent HIV-1 reservoirs in the periphery and brain represents a major obstacle to curing HIV-1 infection. As an essential protein for HIV-1 viral replication, HIV-1 Tat, mostly intracellular, has been implicated in latent HIV-1 infection. From HIV-1 infected cells, HIV-1 Tat is actively secreted and bystander cells uptake the released Tat whereupon it is endocytosed and internalized into endolysosomes. However, to activate the HIV-1 LTR promoter and increase HIV-1 replication, HIV-1 Tat must first escape from the endolysosomes and then enter the nucleus. Here, we tested the hypothesis that HIV-1 Tat can accumulate in endolysosomes and contribute to the activation of latent HIV-1 in astrocytes. Using U87MG astrocytoma cells expressing HIV-1 LTR-driven luciferase and primary human astrocytes we found that exogenous HIV-1 Tat enters endolysosomes, resides in endolysosomes for extended periods of time, and induces endolysosome de-acidification as well as enlargement. The weak base chloroquine promoted the release of HIV-1 Tat from endolysosomes and induced HIV-1 LTR transactivation. Similar results were observed by activating endolysosome Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and TLR7/8. Conversely, pharmacological block of TLRs and knocking down expression levels of TLR3 and TLR7, but not TLR8, prevented endolysosome leakage and attenuated HIV-1 Tat-mediated HIV-1 LTR transactivation. Our findings suggest that HIV-1 Tat accumulation in endolysosomes may play an important role in controlling HIV-1 transactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabab Khan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks North Dakota USA
| | - Peter W. Halcrow
- Department of Biomedical Sciences University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks North Dakota USA
| | - Zahra Afghah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks North Dakota USA
| | - Aparajita Baral
- Department of Biomedical Sciences University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks North Dakota USA
| | - Jonathan D. Geiger
- Department of Biomedical Sciences University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks North Dakota USA
| | - Xuesong Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks North Dakota USA
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Salahuddin MF, Qrareya AN, Mahdi F, Moss E, Akins NS, Li J, Le HV, Paris JJ. Allopregnanolone and neuroHIV: Potential benefits of neuroendocrine modulation in the era of antiretroviral therapy. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13047. [PMID: 34651359 PMCID: PMC8866218 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Forty years into the HIV pandemic, approximately 50% of infected individuals still suffer from a constellation of neurological disorders collectively known as 'neuroHIV.' Although combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been a tremendous success, in its present form, it cannot eradicate HIV. Reservoirs of virus reside within the central nervous system, serving as sources of HIV virotoxins that damage mitochondria and promote neurotoxicity. Although understudied, there is evidence that HIV or the HIV regulatory protein, trans-activator of transcription (Tat), can dysregulate neurosteroid formation potentially contributing to endocrine dysfunction. People living with HIV commonly suffer from endocrine disorders, including hypercortisolemia accompanied by paradoxical adrenal insufficiency upon stress. Age-related comorbidities often onset sooner and with greater magnitude among people living with HIV and are commonly accompanied by hypogonadism. In the post-cART era, these derangements of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and -gonadal axes are secondary (i.e., relegated to the brain) and indicative of neuroendocrine dysfunction. We review the clinical and preclinical evidence for neuroendocrine dysfunction in HIV, the capacity for hormone therapeutics to play an ameliorative role and the future steroid-based therapeutics that may have efficacy as novel adjunctives to cART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed F. Salahuddin
- Department of BioMolecular SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
| | - Alaa N. Qrareya
- Department of BioMolecular SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
| | - Fakhri Mahdi
- Department of BioMolecular SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
| | - Emaya Moss
- Department of BioMolecular SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
| | - Nicholas S. Akins
- Department of BioMolecular SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
| | - Jing Li
- Department of BioMolecular SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
| | - Hoang V. Le
- Department of BioMolecular SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
| | - Jason J. Paris
- Department of BioMolecular SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesSchool of PharmacyUniversity of MississippiUniversityMSUSA
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Rodari A, Poli G, Van Lint C. Jurkat-Derived (J-Lat, J1.1, and Jurkat E4) and CEM-Derived T Cell Lines (8E5 and ACH-2) as Models of Reversible Proviral Latency. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2407:3-15. [PMID: 34985653 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1871-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has switched HIV-1 infection from a lethal disease to a chronic one. Indeed, cART is a lifelong treatment since its interruption is always followed by a rapid rebound of viremia from both cellular and anatomical viral reservoirs where the integrated HIV-1 provirus remains transcriptionally silent or maintains low-levels of viral replication, thereby preventing HIV-1 eradication. As therapeutic approach, the "shock and kill" strategy has emerged with the main objective to reactivate HIV-1 transcription from latency by using latency reversing agents (LRAs) prior to kill the reactivated infected cells by improving host immune responses. In this context, the development of tools such as HIV-1 latently infected cell lines have drastically increased our knowledge about HIV-1 latency and how to counteract this highly heterogeneous phenomenon. In this chapter, we will describe several chronically HIV-1 infected T-lymphocytic cell lines as useful surrogate models to study reversible HIV-1 proviral latency in CD4+ T cells in vitro before approaching more complex and expensive models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Rodari
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Guido Poli
- Viral Pathogenesis Group, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Carine Van Lint
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium.
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New Approaches to Multi-Parametric HIV-1 Genetics Using Multiple Displacement Amplification: Determining the What, How, and Where of the HIV-1 Reservoir. Viruses 2021; 13:v13122475. [PMID: 34960744 PMCID: PMC8709494 DOI: 10.3390/v13122475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of potential HIV-1 curative interventions requires accurate characterization of the proviral reservoir, defined as host-integrated viral DNA genomes that drive rebound of viremia upon halting ART (antiretroviral therapy). Evaluation of such interventions necessitates methods capable of pinpointing the rare, genetically intact, replication-competent proviruses within a background of defective proviruses. This evaluation can be achieved by identifying the distinct integration sites of intact proviruses within host genomes and monitoring the dynamics of these proviruses and host cell lineages over longitudinal sampling. Until recently, molecular genetic approaches at the single proviral level have been generally limited to one of a few metrics, such as proviral genome sequence/intactness, host-proviral integration site, or replication competency. New approaches, taking advantage of MDA (multiple displacement amplification) for WGA (whole genome amplification), have enabled multiparametric proviral characterization at the single-genome level, including proviral genome sequence, host-proviral integration site, and phenotypic characterization of the host cell lineage, such as CD4 memory subset and antigen specificity. In this review, we will examine the workflow of MDA-augmented molecular genetic approaches to study the HIV-1 reservoir, highlighting technical advantages and flexibility. We focus on a collection of recent studies in which investigators have used these approaches to comprehensively characterize intact and defective proviruses from donors on ART, investigate mechanisms of elite control, and define cell lineage identity and antigen specificity of infected CD4+ T cell clones. The highlighted studies exemplify how these approaches and their future iterations will be key in defining the targets and evaluating the impacts of HIV curative interventions.
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Acchioni C, Palermo E, Sandini S, Acchioni M, Hiscott J, Sgarbanti M. Fighting HIV-1 Persistence: At the Crossroads of "Shoc-K and B-Lock". Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111517. [PMID: 34832672 PMCID: PMC8622007 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the success of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), integrated HIV-1 proviral DNA cannot be eradicated from an infected individual. HAART is not able to eliminate latently infected cells that remain invisible to the immune system. Viral sanctuaries in specific tissues and immune-privileged sites may cause residual viral replication that contributes to HIV-1 persistence. The “Shock or Kick, and Kill” approach uses latency reversing agents (LRAs) in the presence of HAART, followed by cell-killing due to viral cytopathic effects and immune-mediated clearance. Different LRAs may be required for the in vivo reactivation of HIV-1 in different CD4+ T cell reservoirs, leading to the activation of cellular transcription factors acting on the integrated proviral HIV-1 LTR. An important requirement for LRA drugs is the reactivation of viral transcription and replication without causing a generalized immune activation. Toll-like receptors, RIG-I like receptors, and STING agonists have emerged recently as a new class of LRAs that augment selective apoptosis in reactivated T lymphocytes. The challenge is to extend in vitro observations to HIV-1 positive patients. Further studies are also needed to overcome the mechanisms that protect latently infected cells from reactivation and/or elimination by the immune system. The Block and Lock alternative strategy aims at using latency promoting/inducing agents (LPAs/LIAs) to block the ability of latent proviruses to reactivate transcription in order to achieve a long term lock down of potential residual virus replication. The Shock and Kill and the Block and Lock approaches may not be only alternative to each other, but, if combined together (one after the other), or given all at once [namely “Shoc-K(kill) and B(block)-Lock”], they may represent a better approach to a functional cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Acchioni
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (C.A.); (S.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Enrico Palermo
- Istituto Pasteur Italia—Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.P.); (J.H.)
| | - Silvia Sandini
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (C.A.); (S.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Marta Acchioni
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (C.A.); (S.S.); (M.A.)
| | - John Hiscott
- Istituto Pasteur Italia—Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.P.); (J.H.)
| | - Marco Sgarbanti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; (C.A.); (S.S.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-4990-3266
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Abstract
Combinatory antiretroviral therapy (cART) reduces human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication but is not curative because cART interruption almost invariably leads to a rapid rebound of viremia due to the persistence of stable HIV-1-infected cellular reservoirs. These reservoirs are mainly composed of CD4+ T cells harboring replication-competent latent proviruses. A broadly explored approach to reduce the HIV-1 reservoir size, the shock and kill strategy, consists of reactivating HIV-1 gene expression from the latently infected cellular reservoirs (the shock), followed by killing of the virus-producing infected cells (the kill). Based on improved understanding of the multiple molecular mechanisms controlling HIV-1 latency, distinct classes of latency reversing agents (LRAs) have been studied for their efficiency to reactivate viral gene expression in in vitro and ex vivo cell models. Here, we provide an up-to-date review of these different mechanistic classes of LRAs and discuss optimizations of the shock strategy by combining several LRAs simultaneously or sequentially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Rodari
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041 Gosselies, Belgium;
| | - Gilles Darcis
- Infectious Diseases Department, Liège University Hospital, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Carine M Van Lint
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041 Gosselies, Belgium;
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Yu Y, Shen L, Li Y, Zhao J, Liu H. The Epidemiological Analysis of HIV/AIDS Patients: Sexually Transmitted Diseases Department VS. Other Departments in A General Hospital of Shanghai, China. Curr HIV Res 2021; 20:63-73. [PMID: 34503416 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x19666210908095355] [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: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital is an important place for HIV/AIDS screening, and a general hospital is composed of multiple departments. Different departments have different levels of understanding of HIV/AIDS, especially the sexually transmitted diseases (STD) department is the main place for HIV/AIDS screening. OBJECTIVE The study aims to validate the common knowledge that the STD department is an important place for HIV/AIDS screening by comparing the epidemiological characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients in the STD department and other departments in Tongji Hospital, which can provide a theoretical basis for the precise and differentiated control of HIV/AIDS. METHODS A total of 283,525 HIV screening cases were analyzed from January 1st 2006 to December 31st 2018 in the STD department and other departments. The epidemiological data of 226 HIV/AIDS cases were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS Firstly, the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the population served by Tongji Hospital was higher than that in Shanghai and China. Secondly, the positive rate of HIV screening test in the STD department was ten times higher than that of other departments. Thirdly, the social-demographic characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients in the STD department were different from those in other departments. Fourthly, there were differences in age, education, marital status and number of sex partners between men who have sex with men (MSM) and men who have sex with women (MSW). Fifthly, there was no difference except age in social-demographic characteristics of MSM between the STD department and other departments. Sixthly, compared with other departments, the majority of HIV/AIDS patients in the STD department were MSM. Seventhly, syphilis and HIV co-infection were not statistically significant in HIV/AIDS patients between the STD department and other departments. CONCLUSION Firstly, the significantly higher positive rate of an HIV screening test in the STD department emphasizes its importance as a place for screening HIV/AIDS patients. Secondly, HIV/AIDS patients diagnosed in the general hospital were mainly transmitted by sexual contact, and MSM accounted for the most part of these patients. More attention should be paid to screen outpatients, especially in the STD department and young men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai. China
| | - Liangliang Shen
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai. China
| | - Yufei Li
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai. China
| | - Jingjun Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai. China
| | - Heping Liu
- Department of Disease Control & Prevention, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai. China
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Pyrroles as Privileged Scaffolds in the Search for New Potential HIV Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14090893. [PMID: 34577593 PMCID: PMC8468532 DOI: 10.3390/ph14090893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and remains a global health problem four decades after the report of its first case. Despite success in viral load suppression and the increase in patient survival due to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), the development of new drugs has become imperative due to strains that have become resistant to antiretrovirals. In this context, there has been a continuous search for new anti-HIV agents based on several chemical scaffolds, including nitrogenated heterocyclic pyrrole rings, which have been included in several compounds with antiretroviral activity. Thus, this review aims to describe pyrrole-based compounds with anti-HIV activity as a new potential treatment against AIDS, covering the period between 2015 and 2020. Our research allowed us to conclude that pyrrole derivatives are still worth exploring, as they may provide highly active compounds targeting different steps of the HIV-1 replication cycle and act with an innovative mechanism.
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Pasternak AO, Berkhout B. The Splice of Life: Does RNA Processing Have a Role in HIV-1 Persistence? Viruses 2021; 13:v13091751. [PMID: 34578332 PMCID: PMC8471011 DOI: 10.3390/v13091751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses HIV-1 replication but does not eradicate the virus. Persistence of HIV-1 latent reservoirs in ART-treated individuals is considered the main obstacle to achieving an HIV-1 cure. However, these HIV-1 reservoirs are not transcriptionally silent, and viral transcripts can be detected in most ART-treated individuals. HIV-1 latency is regulated at the transcriptional and at multiple post-transcriptional levels. Here, we review recent insights into the possible contribution of viral RNA processing to the persistence of HIV-1 reservoirs, and discuss the clinical implications of persistence of viral RNA species in ART-treated individuals.
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Ensoli B, Moretti S, Borsetti A, Maggiorella MT, Buttò S, Picconi O, Tripiciano A, Sgadari C, Monini P, Cafaro A. New insights into pathogenesis point to HIV-1 Tat as a key vaccine target. Arch Virol 2021; 166:2955-2974. [PMID: 34390393 PMCID: PMC8363864 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-021-05158-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite over 30 years of enormous effort and progress in the field, no preventative and/or therapeutic vaccines against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are available. Here, we briefly summarize the vaccine strategies and vaccine candidates that in recent years advanced to efficacy trials with mostly unsatisfactory results. Next, we discuss a novel and somewhat contrarian approach based on biological and epidemiological evidence, which led us to choose the HIV protein Tat for the development of preventive and therapeutic HIV vaccines. Toward this goal, we review here the role of Tat in the virus life cycle as well as experimental and epidemiological evidence supporting its key role in the natural history of HIV infection and comorbidities. We then discuss the preclinical and clinical development of a Tat therapeutic vaccine, which, by improving the functionality and homeostasis of the immune system and by reducing the viral reservoir in virologically suppressed vaccinees, helps to establish key determinants for intensification of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and a functional cure. Future developments and potential applications of the Tat therapeutic vaccine are also discussed, as well as the rationale for its use in preventative strategies. We hope this contribution will lead to a reconsideration of the current paradigms for the development of HIV/AIDS vaccines, with a focus on targeting of viral proteins with key roles in HIV pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Ensoli
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Sonia Moretti
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Borsetti
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Maggiorella
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Buttò
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Orietta Picconi
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Tripiciano
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Sgadari
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Monini
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelio Cafaro
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
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Campbell GR, Spector SA. Induction of Autophagy to Achieve a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Cure. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071798. [PMID: 34359967 PMCID: PMC8307643 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective antiretroviral therapy has led to significant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) suppression and improvement in immune function. However, the persistence of integrated proviral DNA in latently infected reservoir cells, which drive viral rebound post-interruption of antiretroviral therapy, remains the major roadblock to a cure. Therefore, the targeted elimination or permanent silencing of this latently infected reservoir is a major focus of HIV-1 research. The most studied approach in the development of a cure is the activation of HIV-1 expression to expose latently infected cells for immune clearance while inducing HIV-1 cytotoxicity—the “kick and kill” approach. However, the complex and highly heterogeneous nature of the latent reservoir, combined with the failure of clinical trials to reduce the reservoir size casts doubt on the feasibility of this approach. This concern that total elimination of HIV-1 from the body may not be possible has led to increased emphasis on a “functional cure” where the virus remains but is unable to reactivate which presents the challenge of permanently silencing transcription of HIV-1 for prolonged drug-free remission—a “block and lock” approach. In this review, we discuss the interaction of HIV-1 and autophagy, and the exploitation of autophagy to kill selectively HIV-1 latently infected cells as part of a cure strategy. The cure strategy proposed has the advantage of significantly decreasing the size of the HIV-1 reservoir that can contribute to a functional cure and when optimised has the potential to eradicate completely HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant R. Campbell
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-858-534-7477
| | - Stephen A. Spector
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
- Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
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Umotoy JC, de Taeye SW. Antibody Conjugates for Targeted Therapy Against HIV-1 as an Emerging Tool for HIV-1 Cure. Front Immunol 2021; 12:708806. [PMID: 34276704 PMCID: PMC8282362 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.708806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Although advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) have significantly improved the life expectancy of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) by suppressing HIV-1 replication, a cure for HIV/AIDS remains elusive. Recent findings of the emergence of drug resistance against various ART have resulted in an increased number of treatment failures, thus the development of novel strategies for HIV-1 cure is of immediate need. Antibody-based therapy is a well-established tool in the treatment of various diseases and the engineering of new antibody derivatives is expanding the realms of its application. An antibody-based carrier of anti-HIV-1 molecules, or antibody conjugates (ACs), could address the limitations of current HIV-1 ART by decreasing possible off-target effects, reduce toxicity, increasing the therapeutic index, and lowering production costs. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) with exceptional breadth and potency against HIV-1 are currently being explored to prevent or treat HIV-1 infection in the clinic. Moreover, bNAbs can be engineered to deliver cytotoxic or immune regulating molecules as ACs, further increasing its therapeutic potential for HIV-1 cure. ACs are currently an important component of anticancer treatment with several FDA-approved constructs, however, to date, no ACs are approved to treat viral infections. This review aims to outline the development of AC for HIV-1 cure, examine the variety of carriers and payloads used, and discuss the potential of ACs in the current HIV-1 cure landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C Umotoy
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Steven W de Taeye
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Blanco A, Mahajan T, Coronado RA, Ma K, Demma DR, Dar RD. Synergistic Chromatin-Modifying Treatments Reactivate Latent HIV and Decrease Migration of Multiple Host-Cell Types. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061097. [PMID: 34201394 PMCID: PMC8228244 DOI: 10.3390/v13061097] [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: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon infection of its host cell, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) establishes a quiescent and non-productive state capable of spontaneous reactivation. Diverse cell types harboring the provirus form a latent reservoir, constituting a major obstacle to curing HIV. Here, we investigate the effects of latency reversal agents (LRAs) in an HIV-infected THP-1 monocyte cell line in vitro. We demonstrate that leading drug treatments synergize activation of the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter. We establish a latency model in THP-1 monocytes using a replication incompetent HIV reporter vector with functional Tat, and show that chromatin modifiers synergize with a potent transcriptional activator to enhance HIV reactivation, similar to T-cells. Furthermore, leading reactivation cocktails are shown to differentially affect latency reactivation and surface expression of chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), leading to altered host cell migration. This study investigates the effect of chromatin-modifying LRA treatments on HIV latent reactivation and cell migration in monocytes. As previously reported in T-cells, epigenetic mechanisms in monocytes contribute to controlling the relationship between latent reactivation and cell migration. Ultimately, advanced “Shock and Kill” therapy needs to successfully target and account for all host cell types represented in a complex and composite latency milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Blanco
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (A.B.); (T.M.); (R.A.C.); (K.M.); (D.R.D.)
| | - Tarun Mahajan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (A.B.); (T.M.); (R.A.C.); (K.M.); (D.R.D.)
| | - Robert A. Coronado
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (A.B.); (T.M.); (R.A.C.); (K.M.); (D.R.D.)
| | - Kelly Ma
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (A.B.); (T.M.); (R.A.C.); (K.M.); (D.R.D.)
| | - Dominic R. Demma
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (A.B.); (T.M.); (R.A.C.); (K.M.); (D.R.D.)
| | - Roy D. Dar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (A.B.); (T.M.); (R.A.C.); (K.M.); (D.R.D.)
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(217)-265-0708
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48
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Janssens J, Bruggemans A, Christ F, Debyser Z. Towards a Functional Cure of HIV-1: Insight Into the Chromatin Landscape of the Provirus. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:636642. [PMID: 33868195 PMCID: PMC8044952 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.636642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite potent combination antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1 infection persists due to irreversible integration of the virus in long-living cells of the immune system. The main focus of HIV-1 cure strategies has been on HIV-1 eradication, yet without great success so far. Therefore, HIV-1 remission or a functional cure, whereby the virus is silenced rather than eradicated, is considered as an alternative strategy. Elite controllers, individuals who spontaneously control HIV-1, may point us the way toward a functional HIV-1 cure. In order to achieve such a cure, a profound understanding of the mechanisms controlling HIV-1 expression and silencing is needed. In recent years, evidence has grown that the site of integration as well as the chromatin landscape surrounding the integration site affects the transcriptional state of the provirus. Still, at present, the impact of integration site selection on the establishment and maintenance of the HIV-1 reservoirs remains poorly understood. The discovery of LEDGF/p75 as a binding partner of HIV-1 integrase has led to a better understanding of integration site selection. LEDGF/p75 is one of the important determinants of integration site selection and targets integration toward active genes. In this review, we will provide an overview of the most important determinants of integration site selection. Secondly, we will discuss the chromatin landscape at the integration site and its implications on HIV-1 gene expression and silencing. Finally, we will discuss how interventions that affect integration site selection or modifications of the chromatin could yield a functional cure of HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Janssens
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anne Bruggemans
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frauke Christ
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Zeger Debyser
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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49
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Monty MA, Islam MA, Nan X, Tan J, Tuhin IJ, Tang X, Miao M, Wu D, Yu L. Emerging role of RNA interference in immune cells engineering and its therapeutic synergism in immunotherapy. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:1741-1755. [PMID: 33608889 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNAi effectors (e.g. siRNA, shRNA and miRNA) can trigger the silencing of specific genes causing alteration of genomic functions becoming a new therapeutic area for the treatment of infectious diseases, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. In cancer treatment, RNAi effectors showed potential immunomodulatory actions by down-regulating immuno-suppressive proteins, such as PD-1 and CTLA-4, which restrict immune cell function and present challenges in cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, compared with extracellular targeting by antibodies, RNAi-mediated cell-intrinsic disruption of inhibitory pathways in immune cells could promote an increased anti-tumour immune response. Along with non-viral vectors, DNA-based RNAi strategies might be a more promising method for immunomodulation to silence multiple inhibitory pathways in T cells than immune checkpoint blockade antibodies. Thus, in this review, we discuss diverse RNAi implementation strategies, with recent viral and non-viral mediated RNAi synergism to immunotherapy that augments the anti-tumour immunity. Finally, we provide the current progress of RNAi in clinical pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masuma Akter Monty
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Md Ariful Islam
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Nan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingwen Tan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Israth Jahan Tuhin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaowen Tang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Miao Miao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Depei Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lei Yu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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50
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Pasternak AO, Psomas CK, Berkhout B. Predicting Post-treatment HIV Remission: Does Size of the Viral Reservoir Matter? Front Microbiol 2021; 12:648434. [PMID: 33717047 PMCID: PMC7952863 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.648434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and improves immune function. However, due to the persistence of long-lived HIV reservoirs, therapy interruption almost inevitably leads to a fast viral rebound. A small percentage of individuals who are able to control HIV replication for extended periods after therapy interruption are of particular interest because they may represent a model of long-term HIV remission without ART. These individuals are characterized by a limited viral reservoir and low reservoir measures can predict post-treatment HIV remission. However, most individuals with a low reservoir still experience fast viral rebound. In this Perspective, we discuss the possible reasons behind this and propose to develop an integral profile, composed of viral and host biomarkers, that could allow the accurate prediction of post-treatment HIV remission. We also propose to incorporate information on the chromatin context of the proviral integration sites into the characterization of the HIV reservoir, as this likely influences the reactivation capacity of latent proviruses and, together with the actual number of intact proviruses, contributes to the replication competence of the reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander O Pasternak
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christina K Psomas
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine, European Hospital, Marseille, France
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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