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Nguyen K, Karn J. The sounds of silencing: dynamic epigenetic control of HIV latency. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:102-109. [PMID: 38547337 PMCID: PMC10990033 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000850] [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: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review highlights advances in understanding the epigenetic control mechanisms that regulate HIV-1 latency mechanisms in T-cells and microglial cells and describes the potential of current therapeutic approaches targeting the epigenetic machinery to eliminate or block the HIV-1 latent reservoir. RECENT FINDINGS Large-scale unbiased CRISPR-Cas9 library-based screenings, coupled with biochemical studies, have comprehensively identified the epigenetic factors pivotal in regulating HIV-1 latency, paving the way for potential novel targets in therapeutic development. These studies also highlight how the bivalency observed at the HIV-1 5'LTR primes latent proviruses for rapid reactivation. SUMMARY The HIV-1 latent is established very early during infection, and its persistence is the major obstacle to achieving an HIV-1 cure. Here, we present a succinct summary of the latest research findings, shedding light on the pivotal roles played by host epigenetic machinery in the control of HIV-1 latency. Newly uncovered mechanisms permitting rapid reversal of epigenetic restrictions upon viral reactivation highlight the formidable challenges of achieving enduring and irreversible epigenetic silencing of HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kien Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Biology & Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Mbonye U, Karn J. The cell biology of HIV-1 latency and rebound. Retrovirology 2024; 21:6. [PMID: 38580979 PMCID: PMC10996279 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-024-00639-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] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcriptionally latent forms of replication-competent proviruses, present primarily in a small subset of memory CD4+ T cells, pose the primary barrier to a cure for HIV-1 infection because they are the source of the viral rebound that almost inevitably follows the interruption of antiretroviral therapy. Over the last 30 years, many of the factors essential for initiating HIV-1 transcription have been identified in studies performed using transformed cell lines, such as the Jurkat T-cell model. However, as highlighted in this review, several poorly understood mechanisms still need to be elucidated, including the molecular basis for promoter-proximal pausing of the transcribing complex and the detailed mechanism of the delivery of P-TEFb from 7SK snRNP. Furthermore, the central paradox of HIV-1 transcription remains unsolved: how are the initial rounds of transcription achieved in the absence of Tat? A critical limitation of the transformed cell models is that they do not recapitulate the transitions between active effector cells and quiescent memory T cells. Therefore, investigation of the molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 latency reversal and LRA efficacy in a proper physiological context requires the utilization of primary cell models. Recent mechanistic studies of HIV-1 transcription using latently infected cells recovered from donors and ex vivo cellular models of viral latency have demonstrated that the primary blocks to HIV-1 transcription in memory CD4+ T cells are restrictive epigenetic features at the proviral promoter, the cytoplasmic sequestration of key transcription initiation factors such as NFAT and NF-κB, and the vanishingly low expression of the cellular transcription elongation factor P-TEFb. One of the foremost schemes to eliminate the residual reservoir is to deliberately reactivate latent HIV-1 proviruses to enable clearance of persisting latently infected cells-the "Shock and Kill" strategy. For "Shock and Kill" to become efficient, effective, non-toxic latency-reversing agents (LRAs) must be discovered. Since multiple restrictions limit viral reactivation in primary cells, understanding the T-cell signaling mechanisms that are essential for stimulating P-TEFb biogenesis, initiation factor activation, and reversing the proviral epigenetic restrictions have become a prerequisite for the development of more effective LRAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uri Mbonye
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
| | - Jonathan Karn
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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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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Rausch JW, Parvez S, Pathak S, Capoferri AA, Kearney MF. HIV Expression in Infected T Cell Clones. Viruses 2024; 16:108. [PMID: 38257808 PMCID: PMC10820123 DOI: 10.3390/v16010108] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The principal barrier to an HIV-1 cure is the persistence of infected cells harboring replication-competent proviruses despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV-1 transcriptional suppression, referred to as viral latency, is foremost among persistence determinants, as it allows infected cells to evade the cytopathic effects of virion production and killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and other immune factors. HIV-1 persistence is also governed by cellular proliferation, an innate and essential capacity of CD4+ T cells that both sustains cell populations over time and enables a robust directed response to immunological threats. However, when HIV-1 infects CD4+ T cells, this capacity for proliferation can enable surreptitious HIV-1 propagation without the deleterious effects of viral gene expression in latently infected cells. Over time on ART, the HIV-1 reservoir is shaped by both persistence determinants, with selective forces most often favoring clonally expanded infected cell populations harboring transcriptionally quiescent proviruses. Moreover, if HIV latency is incomplete or sporadically reversed in clonal infected cell populations that are replenished faster than they are depleted, such populations could both persist indefinitely and contribute to low-level persistent viremia during ART and viremic rebound if treatment is withdrawn. In this review, select genetic, epigenetic, cellular, and immunological determinants of viral transcriptional suppression and clonal expansion of HIV-1 reservoir T cells, interdependencies among these determinants, and implications for HIV-1 persistence will be presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason W. Rausch
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (S.P.); (S.P.); (A.A.C.); (M.F.K.)
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Lewis CA, Margolis DM, Browne EP. New Concepts in Therapeutic Manipulation of HIV-1 Transcription and Latency: Latency Reversal versus Latency Prevention. Viruses 2023; 15:1677. [PMID: 37632019 PMCID: PMC10459382 DOI: 10.3390/v15081677] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically improved the prognosis for people living with HIV-1, but a cure remains elusive. The largest barrier to a cure is the presence of a long-lived latent reservoir that persists within a heterogenous mix of cell types and anatomical compartments. Efforts to eradicate the latent reservoir have primarily focused on latency reversal strategies. However, new work has demonstrated that the majority of the long-lived latent reservoir is established near the time of ART initiation, suggesting that it may be possible to pair an intervention with ART initiation to prevent the formation of a sizable fraction of the latent reservoir. Subsequent treatment with latency reversal agents, in combination with immune clearance agents, may then be a more tractable strategy for fully clearing the latent reservoir in people newly initiating ART. Here, we summarize molecular mechanisms of latency establishment and maintenance, ongoing efforts to develop effective latency reversal agents, and newer efforts to design latency prevention agents. An improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in both the establishment and maintenance of latency will aid in the development of new latency prevention and reversal approaches to ultimately eradicate the latent reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A. Lewis
- University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - David M. Margolis
- University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Edward P. Browne
- University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Plant E, Bellefroid M, Van Lint C. A complex network of transcription factors and epigenetic regulators involved in bovine leukemia virus transcriptional regulation. Retrovirology 2023; 20:11. [PMID: 37268923 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-023-00623-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) is the etiological agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, a disease characterized by the neoplastic proliferation of B cells in cattle. While most European countries have introduced efficient eradication programs, BLV is still present worldwide and no treatment is available. A major feature of BLV infection is the viral latency, which enables the escape from the host immune system, the maintenance of a persistent infection and ultimately the tumoral development. BLV latency is a multifactorial phenomenon resulting in the silencing of viral genes due to genetic and epigenetic repressions of the viral promoter located in the 5' Long Terminal Repeat (5'LTR). However, viral miRNAs and antisense transcripts are expressed from two different proviral regions, respectively the miRNA cluster and the 3'LTR. These latter transcripts are expressed despite the viral latency affecting the 5'LTR and are increasingly considered to take part in tumoral development. In the present review, we provide a summary of the experimental evidence that has enabled to characterize the molecular mechanisms regulating each of the three BLV transcriptional units, either through cis-regulatory elements or through epigenetic modifications. Additionally, we describe the recently identified BLV miRNAs and antisense transcripts and their implications in BLV-induced tumorigenesis. Finally, we discuss the relevance of BLV as an experimental model for the closely related human T-lymphotropic virus HTLV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Plant
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Maxime Bellefroid
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Carine Van Lint
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 6041, Gosselies, Belgium.
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Arenas VR, Rugeles MT, Perdomo-Celis F, Taborda N. Recent advances in CD8 + T cell-based immune therapies for HIV cure. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17481. [PMID: 37441388 PMCID: PMC10333625 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17481] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Achieving a cure for HIV infection is a global priority. There is substantial evidence supporting a central role for CD8+ T cells in the natural control of HIV, suggesting the rationale that these cells may be exploited to achieve remission or cure of this infection. In this work, we review the major challenges for achieving an HIV cure, the models of HIV remission, and the mechanisms of HIV control mediated by CD8+ T cells. In addition, we discuss strategies based on this cell population that could be used in the search for an HIV cure. Finally, we analyze the current challenges and perspectives to translate this basic knowledge toward scalable HIV cure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María T. Rugeles
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
| | | | - Natalia Taborda
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
- Grupo de Investigaciones Biomédicas Uniremington, Programa de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Corporación Universitaria Remington, Medellin, Colombia
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Lista MJ, Jousset AC, Cheng M, Saint-André V, Perrot E, Rodrigues M, Di Primo C, Gadelle D, Toccafondi E, Segeral E, Berlioz-Torrent C, Emiliani S, Mergny JL, Lavigne M. DNA topoisomerase 1 represses HIV-1 promoter activity through its interaction with a guanine quadruplex present in the LTR sequence. Retrovirology 2023; 20:10. [PMID: 37254203 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-023-00625-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Once integrated in the genome of infected cells, HIV-1 provirus is transcribed by the cellular transcription machinery. This process is regulated by both viral and cellular factors, which are necessary for an efficient viral replication as well as for the setting up of viral latency, leading to a repressed transcription of the integrated provirus. RESULTS In this study, we examined the role of two parameters in HIV-1 LTR promoter activity. We identified DNA topoisomerase1 (TOP1) to be a potent repressor of this promoter and linked this repression to its catalytic domain. Additionally, we confirmed the folding of a Guanine quadruplex (G4) structure in the HIV-1 promoter and its repressive effect. We demonstrated a direct interaction between TOP1 and this G4 structure, providing evidence of a functional relationship between the two repressive elements. Mutations abolishing G4 folding affected TOP1/G4 interaction and hindered G4-dependent inhibition of TOP1 catalytic activity in vitro. As a result, HIV-1 promoter activity was reactivated in a native chromatin environment. Lastly, we noticed an enrichment of predicted G4 sequences in the promoter of TOP1-repressed cellular genes. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the formation of a TOP1/G4 complex on the HIV-1 LTR promoter and its repressive effect on the promoter activity. They reveal the existence of a new mechanism of TOP1/G4-dependent transcriptional repression conserved between viral and human genes. This mechanism contrasts with the known property of TOP1 as global transcriptional activator and offers new perspectives for anti-cancer and anti-viral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Lista
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anne-Caroline Jousset
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UPR 9002, Architecture et réactivité de l'ARN, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mingpan Cheng
- CNRS UMR 5320, INSERM U1212, ARNA, Univ. Bordeaux, IECB, 33000, Bordeaux, France
- School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Violaine Saint-André
- Institut Pasteur, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Elouan Perrot
- Institut Pasteur, Departement of Virology, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Melissa Rodrigues
- Institut Pasteur, Departement of Virology, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Carmelo Di Primo
- CNRS UMR 5320, INSERM U1212, ARNA, Univ. Bordeaux, IECB, 33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Danielle Gadelle
- Institut de Biologie Integrative de la Cellule, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198, Gif Sur Yvette, Cedex, France
| | - Elenia Toccafondi
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UPR 9002, Architecture et réactivité de l'ARN, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Emmanuel Segeral
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | | | - Stéphane Emiliani
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- CNRS UMR 5320, INSERM U1212, ARNA, Univ. Bordeaux, IECB, 33000, Bordeaux, France
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120, Palaiseau, France
| | - Marc Lavigne
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014, Paris, France.
- Institut Pasteur, Departement of Virology, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France.
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Rao S. Sex differences in HIV-1 persistence and the implications for a cure. Front Glob Womens Health 2022; 3:942345. [PMID: 36212905 PMCID: PMC9538461 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2022.942345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Of the 38 million people currently living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus type-1 (HIV-1), women, especially adolescents and young women, are disproportionally affected by the HIV-1 pandemic. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) - related illnesses are the leading cause of death in women of reproductive age worldwide. Although combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) can suppress viral replication, cART is not curative due to the presence of a long-lived viral reservoir that persists despite treatment. Biological sex influences the characteristics of the viral reservoir as well as the immune responses to infection, factors that can have a significant impact on the design and quantification of HIV-1 curative interventions in which women are grossly underrepresented. This mini-review will provide an update on the current understanding of the impact of biological sex on the viral reservoir and will discuss the implications of these differences in the context of the development of potential HIV-1 curative strategies, with a focus on the shock and kill approach to an HIV-1 cure. This mini-review will also highlight the current gaps in the knowledge of sex-based differences in HIV-1 persistence and will speculate on approaches to address them to promote the development of more scalable, effective curative approaches for people living with HIV-1.
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Inderbitzin A, Loosli T, Opitz L, Rusert P, Metzner KJ. Transcriptome profiles of latently- and reactivated HIV-1 infected primary CD4+ T cells: A pooled data-analysis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:915805. [PMID: 36090997 PMCID: PMC9459035 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.915805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The main obstacle to cure HIV-1 is the latent reservoir. Antiretroviral therapy effectively controls viral replication, however, it does not eradicate the latent reservoir. Latent CD4+ T cells are extremely rare in HIV-1 infected patients, making primary CD4+ T cell models of HIV-1 latency key to understanding latency and thus finding a cure. In recent years several primary CD4+ T cell models of HIV-1 latency were developed to study the underlying mechanism of establishing, maintaining and reversing HIV-1 latency. In the search of biomarkers, primary CD4+ T cell models of HIV-1 latency were used for bulk and single-cell transcriptomics. A wealth of information was generated from transcriptome analyses of different primary CD4+ T cell models of HIV-1 latency using latently- and reactivated HIV-1 infected primary CD4+ T cells. Here, we performed a pooled data-analysis comparing the transcriptome profiles of latently- and reactivated HIV-1 infected cells of 5 in vitro primary CD4+ T cell models of HIV-1 latency and 2 ex vivo studies of reactivated HIV-1 infected primary CD4+ T cells from HIV-1 infected individuals. Identifying genes that are differentially expressed between latently- and reactivated HIV-1 infected primary CD4+ T cells could be a more successful strategy to better understand and characterize HIV-1 latency and reactivation. We observed that natural ligands and coreceptors were predominantly downregulated in latently HIV-1 infected primary CD4+ T cells, whereas genes associated with apoptosis, cell cycle and HLA class II were upregulated in reactivated HIV-1 infected primary CD4+ T cells. In addition, we observed 5 differentially expressed genes that co-occurred in latently- and reactivated HIV-1 infected primary CD4+ T cells, one of which, MSRB2, was found to be differentially expressed between latently- and reactivated HIV-1 infected cells. Investigation of primary CD4+ T cell models of HIV-1 latency that mimic the in vivo state remains essential for the study of HIV-1 latency and thus providing the opportunity to compare the transcriptome profile of latently- and reactivated HIV-1 infected cells to gain insights into differentially expressed genes, which might contribute to HIV-1 latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Inderbitzin
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tom Loosli
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lennart Opitz
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich/University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Rusert
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karin J. Metzner
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Karin J. Metzner,
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Verdikt R, Bendoumou M, Bouchat S, Nestola L, Pasternak AO, Darcis G, Avettand-Fenoel V, Vanhulle C, Aït-Ammar A, Santangelo M, Plant E, Douce VL, Delacourt N, Cicilionytė A, Necsoi C, Corazza F, Passaes CPB, Schwartz C, Bizet M, Fuks F, Sáez-Cirión A, Rouzioux C, De Wit S, Berkhout B, Gautier V, Rohr O, Van Lint C. Novel role of UHRF1 in the epigenetic repression of the latent HIV-1. EBioMedicine 2022; 79:103985. [PMID: 35429693 PMCID: PMC9038550 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103985] [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: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The multiplicity, heterogeneity, and dynamic nature of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) latency mechanisms are reflected in the current lack of functional cure for HIV-1. Accordingly, all classes of latency-reversing agents (LRAs) have been reported to present variable ex vivo potencies. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the potency variability of one LRA: the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AzadC). METHODS We employed epigenetic interrogation methods (electrophoretic mobility shift assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, Infinium array) in complementary HIV-1 infection models (latently-infected T-cell line models, primary CD4+ T-cell models and ex vivo cultures of PBMCs from HIV+ individuals). Extracellular staining of cell surface receptors and intracellular metabolic activity were measured in drug-treated cells. HIV-1 expression in reactivation studies was explored by combining the measures of capsid p24Gag protein, green fluorescence protein signal, intracellular and extracellular viral RNA and viral DNA. FINDINGS We uncovered specific demethylation CpG signatures induced by 5-AzadC in the HIV-1 promoter. By analyzing the binding modalities to these CpG, we revealed the recruitment of the epigenetic integrator Ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domain 1 (UHRF1) to the HIV-1 promoter. We showed that UHRF1 redundantly binds to the HIV-1 promoter with different binding modalities where DNA methylation was either non-essential, essential or enhancing UHRF1 binding. We further demonstrated the role of UHRF1 in the epigenetic repression of the latent viral promoter by a concerted control of DNA and histone methylations. INTERPRETATION A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 latency allows for the development of innovative antiviral strategies. As a proof-of-concept, we showed that pharmacological inhibition of UHRF1 in ex vivo HIV+ patient cell cultures resulted in potent viral reactivation from latency. Together, we identify UHRF1 as a novel actor in HIV-1 epigenetic silencing and highlight that it constitutes a new molecular target for HIV-1 cure strategies. FUNDING Funding was provided by the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.-FNRS, Belgium), the « Fondation Roi Baudouin », the NEAT (European AIDS Treatment Network) program, the Internationale Brachet Stiftung, ViiV Healthcare, the Télévie, the Walloon Region (« Fonds de Maturation »), « Les Amis des Instituts Pasteur à Bruxelles, asbl », the University of Brussels (Action de Recherche Concertée ULB grant), the Marie Skodowska Curie COFUND action, the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 691119-EU4HIVCURE-H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015, the French Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS), the Sidaction and the "Alsace contre le Cancer" Foundation. This work is supported by 1UM1AI164562-01, co-funded by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxane Verdikt
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies 6041, Belgium
| | - Maryam Bendoumou
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies 6041, Belgium
| | - Sophie Bouchat
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies 6041, Belgium
| | - Lorena Nestola
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies 6041, Belgium
| | - Alexander O Pasternak
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, the Netherland
| | - Gilles Darcis
- Infectious Diseases Department, Liège University Hospital, Liège 4000, Belgium
| | - Véronique Avettand-Fenoel
- AP-HP, Hôpital Necker-Enfants-Malades, Service de Microbiologie clinique, Paris 75015, France; Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75006, France; INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, 75014, France; CNRS, UMR8104, Paris 75014, France
| | - Caroline Vanhulle
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies 6041, Belgium
| | - Amina Aït-Ammar
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies 6041, Belgium
| | - Marion Santangelo
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies 6041, Belgium
| | - Estelle Plant
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies 6041, Belgium
| | - Valentin Le Douce
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Nadège Delacourt
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies 6041, Belgium
| | - Aurelija Cicilionytė
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, the Netherland
| | - Coca Necsoi
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses, CHU St-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels 1000, Belgium
| | - Francis Corazza
- Laboratory of Immunology, IRISLab, CHU Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels 1020, Belgium
| | | | - Christian Schwartz
- Laboratoire DHPI EA7292, Université de Strasbourg, Schiltigheim, 67300, France; IUT Louis Pasteur, Université de Strasbourg, Schiltigheim, 67300, France
| | - Martin Bizet
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB-Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels 1070, Belgium
| | - François Fuks
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB-Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels 1070, Belgium
| | - Asier Sáez-Cirión
- Départements de Virologie et Immunologie, Institut Pasteur, Unité HIV, Inflammation et Persistance, Paris 75015, France
| | - Christine Rouzioux
- AP-HP, Hôpital Necker-Enfants-Malades, Service de Microbiologie clinique, Paris 75015, France
| | - Stéphane De Wit
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses, CHU St-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels 1000, Belgium
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, the Netherland
| | - Virginie Gautier
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Olivier Rohr
- Laboratoire DHPI EA7292, Université de Strasbourg, Schiltigheim, 67300, France; IUT Louis Pasteur, Université de Strasbourg, Schiltigheim, 67300, France
| | - Carine Van Lint
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Biology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies 6041, Belgium.
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van Heuvel Y, Schatz S, Rosengarten JF, Stitz J. Infectious RNA: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Biology, Therapeutic Intervention, and the Quest for a Vaccine. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14020138. [PMID: 35202165 PMCID: PMC8876946 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14020138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Different mechanisms mediate the toxicity of RNA. Genomic retroviral mRNA hijacks infected host cell factors to enable virus replication. The viral genomic RNA of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encompasses nine genes encoding in less than 10 kb all proteins needed for replication in susceptible host cells. To do so, the genomic RNA undergoes complex alternative splicing to facilitate the synthesis of the structural, accessory, and regulatory proteins. However, HIV strongly relies on the host cell machinery recruiting cellular factors to complete its replication cycle. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) targets different steps in the cycle, preventing disease progression to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The comprehension of the host immune system interaction with the virus has fostered the development of a variety of vaccine platforms. Despite encouraging provisional results in vaccine trials, no effective vaccine has been developed, yet. However, novel promising vaccine platforms are currently under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasemin van Heuvel
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, TH Köln—University of Applied Sciences, Chempark Leverkusen, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany; (Y.v.H.); (S.S.); (J.F.R.)
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 3-9, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefanie Schatz
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, TH Köln—University of Applied Sciences, Chempark Leverkusen, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany; (Y.v.H.); (S.S.); (J.F.R.)
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 3-9, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jamila Franca Rosengarten
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, TH Köln—University of Applied Sciences, Chempark Leverkusen, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany; (Y.v.H.); (S.S.); (J.F.R.)
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 3-9, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jörn Stitz
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, TH Köln—University of Applied Sciences, Chempark Leverkusen, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany; (Y.v.H.); (S.S.); (J.F.R.)
- Correspondence:
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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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