Human X-DING-CD4 mediates resistance to HIV-1 infection through novel paracrine-like signaling

X-DING-CD4 is a novel phosphatase mediating antiviral responses to HIV-1 infection. This protein is constitutively expressed and secreted by HIV-1 resistant CD4(+) T cells and its mRNA transcription is up-regulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-1 elite controllers. The secreted/soluble X-DING-CD4 protein form is of particular importance because it blocks virus transcription when added to HIV-1 susceptible cells. The present study aimed to determine the contribution of this factor to the induction of the antiviral response in target cells. We found that soluble X-DING-CD4 enters cells by endocytosis and that influx of this protein induced transcription of interferon-α and endogenous X-DING-CD4 mRNA in transformed CD4(+) T cells and primary macrophages. Treatment of HIV-1 susceptible cells with exogenous X-DING-CD4 caused depletion of phosphorylated p50 and p65 nuclear factor kappa β subunits and a significant reduction in p50/p65 nuclear factor kappa β binding to the HIV-1 long terminal repeat. Taken together, these findings indicate a novel antiviral mechanism mediated by the influx of soluble X-DING-CD4, its signaling to promote self-amplification, and functional duality as an endogenous innate immunity effector and exogenous factor regulating gene expression in bystander cells.

The interplay between the X-DING-CD4, IFN-α and IL-8 gene activity in quiescent and mitogen- or HIV-1-exposed PBMCs from HIV-1 elite controllers, AIDS progressors and HIV-negative controls

X-DING-CD4 blocks HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) and pathogen induced pro-inflammatory response. Increased activity of the X-DING-CD4 gene is associated with cellular resistance to virus; therefore, HIV-1 elite controllers (ECs) should have higher X-DING-CD4 and reduced pro-inflammatory mRNA activity than viremic or uninfected individuals. Also, depending on the cell stimulating factor, expression of X-DING-CD4 mRNA in ECs might be autonomous or contingent on IFN signaling. We compared expression of X-DING-CD4, IFN-α and IL-8 mRNAs in naive, phytohemagglutinin- or HIV-1 exposed PBMCs from ECs, HIV progressors and negative controls; tested correlation between X-DING-CD4 and IFN-α expression; sensitivity of the X-DING-CD4 gene to IFN-α regulation; and evaluated interactions between innate and pro-inflammatory genes. We found that expression of X-DING-CD4 and IFN-α was up-regulated in ECs and correlated in cells stimulated with mitogen, but not HIV-1. The X-DING-CD4 gene was more sensitive to HIV-1 than rIFN-α stimulation. ECs had significantly less IL-8 mRNA when PBMCs were exposed to exogenous HIV-1. Two-way ANOVA showed that control of HIV-1 and virus-induced pro-inflammatory response by ECs stemmed from interactions between expression of innate immunity and pro-inflammatory genes, the state of cell stimulation and the status of virus control. Consequently, interaction of multiple host innate immune responses rather than a single mechanism regulates restriction of HIV-1 in ECs.

Cellular resistance to HIV-1 infection in target cells coincides with a rapid induction of X-DING-CD4 mRNA: indication of the unique host innate response to virus regulated through function of the X-DING-CD4 gene

Clinical reports indicate that some infected individuals control HIV-1 replication through undefined mechanisms. Our group reported that a human protein named X-DING-CD4 holds a potent antiviral activity, blocking transcription of HIV-1 LTR through the inhibition of NF-κB/DNA binding. Based on observations that transformed HIV-1 resistant CD4(+) T cells produce higher levels of soluble X-DING-CD4 protein upon their exposure to virus, we hypothesized that resistance to HIV-1 in these cells may be regulated through function of the X-DING-CD4 gene. Real-time PCR evaluations of X-DING-CD4 mRNA expression confirmed our hypothesis; HIV-1 exposure caused rapid up-regulation of X-DING-CD4 mRNA in resistant, but not susceptible, cells; and the burst of X-DING-CD4 mRNA expression correlated with restriction of HIV-1 transcription. Subsequently, we examined the activity of the X-DING-CD4 gene in monocytes and macrophages from (n = 13) HIV-negative donors. The assessment of HIV-1 gag mRNA showed that the majority of cells were permissive to virus replication; however, macrophages from four donors were refractory to HIV-1 infection. In response to virus, these cells up-regulated X-DING-CD4 gene expression by 2- to 1000-fold. These data provide evidence that the X-DING-CD4 gene contributes to early cellular protection from HIV infection in some individuals and this protection depends solely on the unique genetic regulation of the host.

Native X-DING-CD4 protein secreted by HIV-1 resistant CD4+ T cells blocks activity of IL-8 promoter in human endothelial cells infected with enteric bacteria

Onsets of bacterial infections devastate the compromised immune system in AIDS patients. Damaged gut mucosa permits dissemination of bacterial toxins into deeper layers and hyper-activation of the immune system. We previously reported that the unfractionated supernatants of HIV-resistant CD4(+) T cells impeded the NF-κB/DNA binding in macrophages induced by either HIV-1 or LPS. The active component of this soluble material was identified as X-DING-CD4 (extracellular DING from CD4 T cells). We hypothesized that the anti-inflammatory effect of the X-DING-CD4 protein might extend to non-immune cells, for example endothelial cells, undergoing persistent endotoxin stimulation in the course of advanced HIV disease. To test this proposition, we evaluated the efficiency of NF-κB and Ap-1 binding to the IL-8 promoter in LPS-activated endothelial cells and control human macrophages exposed to native X-DING-CD4 protein. We found a deficiency of NF-κB- but not AP-1-DNA binding in the systems where cells were treated with native soluble X-DING-CD4 protein. The X-DING-CD4-mediated inhibition of the IL-8 promoter also resulted in a reduction of the soluble IL-8 protein in endothelial cells and human macrophages infected with a subset of enteric bacteria frequently causing diarrhea in progressive HIV disease. Bacterial endotoxin did not induce the endogenous X-DING-CD4 mRNA activity in human macrophages and transformed CD4(+)T cells, indicating that the reduction of LPS-mediated IL-8 promoter activation was not related to de novo X-DING-CD4 protein synthesis, but depended on function of the exogenous X-DING-CD4 protein. This study provides evidence that the X-DING-CD4 protein might be developed as a novel biotherapeutic to control LPS-mediated inflammation in advanced HIV disease.

Transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial glycerophosphate acyltransferase is mediated by distal promoter via ChREBP and SREBP-1

We have recently identified two promoters, distal and proximal for rat mitochondrial glycerophosphate acyltransferase (mtGPAT). Here we are reporting further characterization of the promoters. Insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated while leptin and glucagon inhibited the luciferase activity of the distal promoter and the amounts of the distal transcript. Conversely, luciferase activity of the proximal promoter and proximal transcript remained unchanged due to these treatments. Only the distal promoter has binding sites for carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1). Electromobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that ChREBP and SREBP-1 bind to the mtGPAT distal promoter. Insulin and EGF increased while glucagon and leptin decreased the binding of SREBP-1 and ChREBP to the distal promoter. Thus, the distal promoter is the regulatory promoter while the proximal promoter acts constitutively for rat mtGPAT gene under the influence of hormones and growth factor.

The presence of distal and proximal promoters for rat mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase

Sequence analysis using the Promoser program predicted two promoter-like regions for rat mtGPAT: a distal promoter approximately 30kb upstream and a proximal promoter near the first translational codon. Rat liver cells transfected with pGL3-basic vector containing the distal and proximal promoter resulted in 10.8- and 4.8-fold increase in the luciferase activity, respectively. Results of electromobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation suggested binding of transcription factors to the distal and proximal promoter regions. 5' RACE PCR showed two transcripts with different transcriptional start sites. When transfected rat liver cells were starved and refed, there was about 2.7-fold increase in the luciferase activity with cells transfected with the distal promoter while the proximal promoter showed no change. Thus, the two promoters could be functionally distinguished. Taken together, the results suggest that there are two promoters for rat mtGPAT gene and that the transcriptional regulation is mediated through the distal promoter.