scholarly journals Functional Role of pX Open Reading Frame II of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 in Maintenance of Viral Loads In Vivo

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 1094-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua T. Bartoe ◽  
Björn Albrecht ◽  
Nathaniel D. Collins ◽  
Michael D. Robek ◽  
Lee Ratner ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and is associated with a variety of immune-mediated disorders. The role of four open reading frames (ORFs), located between env and the 3′ long terminal repeat of HTLV-1, in mediating disease is not entirely clear. By differential splicing, ORF II encodes two proteins, p13II and p30II, both of which have not been functionally defined. p13II localizes to mitochondria and may alter the configuration of the tubular network of this cellular organelle. p30II localizes to the nucleolus and shares homology with the transcription factors Oct-1 and -2, Pit-1, and POU-M1. Both p13II and p30II are dispensable for infection and immortalization of primary human and rabbit lymphocytes in vitro. To test the role of ORF II gene products in vivo, we inoculated rabbits with lethally irradiated cell lines expressing the wild-type molecular clone of HTLV-1 (ACH.1) or a clone containing selected mutations in ORF II (ACH.30/13.1). ACH.1-inoculated animals maintained higher HTLV-1-specific antibody titers than animals inoculated with ACH.30/13.1. Viral p19 antigen was transiently detected in ex vivo cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from only two ACH.30/13.1-inoculated rabbits, while PBMC cultures from all ACH.1-inoculated rabbits routinely produced p19 antigen. In only three of six animals exposed to the ACH.p30II/p13IIclone could provirus be consistently PCR amplified from extracted PBMC DNA and quantitative competitive PCR showed the proviral loads in PBMC from ACH.p30II/p13II-infected rabbits to be dramatically lower than the proviral loads in rabbits exposed to ACH. Our data indicate selected mutations in pX ORF II diminish the ability of HTLV-1 to maintain high viral loads in vivo and suggest an important function for p13II and p30II in viral pathogenesis.

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (7) ◽  
pp. 3469-3476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajime Hiraragi ◽  
Seung-Jae Kim ◽  
Andrew J. Phipps ◽  
Micol Silic-Benussi ◽  
Vincenzo Ciminale ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia, encodes unique regulatory and accessory proteins in the pX region of the provirus, including the open reading frame II product p13II. p13II localizes to mitochondria, binds farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase, an enzyme involved in posttranslational farnesylation of Ras, and alters Ras-dependent cell signaling and control of apoptosis. The role of p13II in virus infection in vivo remains undetermined. Herein, we analyzed the functional significance of p13II in HTLV-1 infection. We compared the infectivity of a human B-cell line that harbors an infectious molecular clone of HTLV-1 with a selective mutation that prevents the translation of p13II (729.ACH.p13) to the infectivity of a wild-type HTLV-1-expressing cell line (729.ACH). 729.ACH and 729.ACH.p13 producer lines had comparable infectivities for cultured rabbit peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and the fidelity of the start codon mutation in ACH.p13 was maintained after PBMC passage. In contrast, zero of six rabbits inoculated with 729.ACH.p13 cells failed to establish viral infection, whereas six of six rabbits inoculated with wild-type HTLV-1-expressing cells (729.ACH) were infected as measured by antibody responses, proviral load, and HTLV-1 p19 matrix antigen production from ex vivo-cultured PBMC. Our data are the first to indicate that the HTLV-1 mitochondrion-localizing protein p13II has an essential biological role during the early phase of virus infection in vivo.


2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 5124-5130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashade A. H. Haynes ◽  
Bevin Zimmerman ◽  
Laurie Millward ◽  
Evan Ware ◽  
Christopher Premanandan ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and is associated with a variety of lymphocyte-mediated disorders. HTLV-1 transmission occurs by transmission of infected cells via breast-feeding by infected mothers, sexual intercourse, and contaminated blood products. The route of exposure and early virus replication events are believed to be key determinants of virus-associated spread, antiviral immune responses, and ultimately disease outcomes. The lack of knowledge of early events of HTLV-1 spread following blood-borne transmission of the virus in vivo hinders a more complete understanding of the immunopathogenesis of HTLV-1 infections. Herein, we have used an established animal model of HTLV-1 infection to study early spatial and temporal events of the viral infection. Twelve-week-old rabbits were injected intravenously with cell-associated HTLV-1 (ACH-transformed R49). Blood and tissues were collected at defined intervals throughout the study to test the early spread of the infection. Antibody and hematologic responses were monitored throughout the infection. HTLV-1 intracellular Tax and soluble p19 matrix were tested from ex vivo cultured lymphocytes. Proviral copy numbers were measured by real-time PCR from blood and tissue mononuclear leukocytes. Our data indicate that intravenous infection with cell-associated HTLV-1 targets lymphocytes located in both primary lymphoid and gut-associated lymphoid compartments. A transient lymphocytosis that correlated with peak virus detection parameters was observed by 1 week postinfection before returning to baseline levels. Our data support emerging evidence that HTLV-1 promotes lymphocyte proliferation preceding early viral spread in lymphoid compartments to establish and maintain persistent infection.


2007 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 655-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Cihlar ◽  
Adrian S. Ray ◽  
Constantine G. Boojamra ◽  
Lijun Zhang ◽  
Hon Hui ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT GS-9148 [(5-(6-amino-purin-9-yl)-4-fluoro-2,5-dihydro-furan-2-yloxymethyl)phosphonic acid] is a novel ribose-modified human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nucleotide reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor (NRTI) selected from a series of nucleoside phosphonate analogs for its favorable in vitro biological properties including (i) a low potential for mitochondrial toxicity, (ii) a minimal cytotoxicity in renal proximal tubule cells and other cell types, (iii) synergy in combination with other antiretrovirals, and (iv) a unique resistance profile against multiple NRTI-resistant HIV-1 strains. Notably, antiviral resistance analysis indicated that neither the K65R, L74V, or M184V RT mutation nor their combinations had any effect on the antiretroviral activity of GS-9148. Viruses carrying four or more thymidine analog mutations showed a substantially smaller change in GS-9148 activity relative to that observed with most marketed NRTIs. GS-9131, an ethylalaninyl phosphonoamidate prodrug designed to maximize the intracellular delivery of GS-9148, is a potent inhibitor of multiple subtypes of HIV-1 clinical isolates, with a mean 50% effective concentration of 37 nM. Inside cells, GS-9131 is readily hydrolyzed to GS-9148, which is further phosphorylated to its active diphosphate metabolite (A. S. Ray, J. E. Vela, C. G. Boojamra, L. Zhang, H. Hui, C. Callebaut, K. Stray, K.-Y. Lin, Y. Gao, R. L. Mackman, and T. Cihlar, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52:648-654, 2008). GS-9148 diphosphate acts as a competitive inhibitor of RT with respect to dATP (Ki = 0.8 μM) and exhibits low inhibitory potency against host polymerases including DNA polymerase γ. Oral administration of GS-9131 to beagle dogs at a dose of 3 mg/kg of body weight resulted in high and persistent levels of GS-9148 diphosphate in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (with a maximum intracellular concentration of >9 μM and a half-life of >24 h). This favorable preclinical profile makes GS-9131 an attractive clinical development candidate for the treatment of patients infected with NRTI-resistant HIV.


2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 3080-3083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuela Balestrieri ◽  
Giancarlo Forte ◽  
Claudia Matteucci ◽  
Antonio Mastino ◽  
Beatrice Macchi

ABSTRACT The effects of lamivudine (3TC) on in vitro infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) were investigated. Direct measures of viral replication (viral DNA, RNA, and protein) all gave similar, very high 50% inhibitory concentrations in comparison with those previously reported for zidovudine. Nevertheless, 3TC inhibited HTLV-1-driven long-term growth of infected PBMC in vitro at concentrations (6.25 μM) which had poor or no direct antiviral effects, suggesting that another mechanism may be playing a role.


2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (24) ◽  
pp. 12801-12809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Won-Kyung Cho ◽  
Moon Kyoo Jang ◽  
Keven Huang ◽  
Cynthia A. Pise-Masison ◽  
John N. Brady

ABSTRACT Positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) plays an important role in stimulating RNA polymerase II elongation for viral and cellular gene expression. P-TEFb is found in cells in either an active, low-molecular-weight (LMW) form or an inactive, high-molecular-weight (HMW) form. We report here that human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax interacts with the cyclin T1 subunit of P-TEFb, forming a distinct Tax/P-TEFb LMW complex. We demonstrate that Tax can play a role in regulating the amount of HMW complex present in the cell by decreasing the binding of 7SK snRNP/HEXIM1 to P-TEFb. This is seen both in vitro using purified Tax protein and in vivo in cells transduced with Tax expression constructs. Further, we find that a peptide of cyclin T1 spanning the Tax binding domain inhibits the ability of Tax to disrupt HMW P-TEFb complexes. These results suggest that the direct interaction of Tax with cyclin T1 can dissociate P-TEFb from the P-TEFb/7SK snRNP/HEXIM1 complex for activation of the viral long terminal repeat (LTR). We also show that Tax competes with Brd4 for P-TEFb binding. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays demonstrated that Brd4 and P-TEFb are associated with the basal HTLV-1 LTR, while Tax and P-TEFb are associated with the activated template. Furthermore, the knockdown of Brd4 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) activates the HTLV-1 LTR promoter, which results in an increase in viral expression and production. Our studies have identified Tax as a regulator of P-TEFb that is capable of affecting the balance between its association with the large inactive complex and the small active complex.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariè van der Merwe ◽  
Richard J. Bloomer

Background. Inflammation is associated with strenuous exercise and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.Methods. Physically active men were supplemented with either placebo or MSM (3 grams per day) for 28 days before performing 100 repetitions of eccentric knee extension exercise.Ex vivoandin vitrotesting consisted of evaluating cytokine production in blood (whole blood and isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)) exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), before and through 72 hours after exercise, whilein vivotesting included the evaluation of cytokines before and through 72 hours after exercise.Results. LPS stimulation of whole blood after MSM supplementation resulted in decreased induction of IL-1β, with no effect on IL-6, TNF-α, or IL-8. After exercise, there was a reduced response to LPS in the placebo, but MSM resulted in robust release of IL-6 and TNF-α. A small decrease in resting levels of proinflammatory cytokines was noted with MSM, while an acute postexercise increase in IL-10 was observed with MSM.Conclusion. Strenuous exercise causes a robust inflammatory reaction that precludes the cells from efficiently responding to additional stimuli. MSM appears to dampen the release of inflammatory molecules in response to exercise, resulting in a less incendiary environment, allowing cells to still have the capacity to mount an appropriate response to an additional stimulus after exercise.


2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masako Moriuchi ◽  
Hiroyasu Inoue ◽  
Hiroyuki Moriuchi

ABSTRACT Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the etiologic agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, is transmitted through breast milk and seminal fluid, which are rich in prostaglandins (PGs). We demonstrate that PGE2 upregulates the HTLV-1 long terminal repeat promoter through the protein kinase A pathway, induces replication of HTLV-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from asymptomatic carriers, and enhances transmission of HTLV-1 to cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC). Furthermore, HTLV-1 Tax transactivates a promoter for cyclooxygenase 2, a PG synthetase, and induces PGE2 expression in PBMC or CBMC. Thus, HTLV-1 interacts with and benefits from PGs, constituents of its own vehicle for transmission.


Author(s):  
Yi Zhong ◽  
Ting-Ting Lu ◽  
Xiao-Mei Liu ◽  
Bing-Li Liu ◽  
Yun Hu ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Regulatory T cells (Tregs) dysfunction plays an important role in the development and progression of Graves’ disease (GD). Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) prompts FoxP3 in Tregs expression and enhances the suppressive activity of Tregs. Whether abnormal expression of PD-1 contributes to the breakdown of Tregs and the role of thyroid hormone in the PD-1 expression of Tregs in GD remain substantially undefined. Objective To evaluate the role of PD-1 in Tregs function and triiodothyronine (T3) in PD-1 expression in patients with GD and mice treated with T3. Methods We recruited 30 patients with GD and 30 healthy donors. PD-1 expression in Tregs and Tregs function were determined. To evaluate the effects of thyroid hormone on PD-1 expression in Tregs, we used T3 for the treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We then treated mice with T3 to confirm the effect of thyroid hormone on PD-1 expression in Tregs and Tregs function in vivo. Results PD-1 expression in Tregs and the suppressive function of Tregs significantly decreased in patients with GD. T3 reduced PD-1 expression in human Tregs in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in vitro. High levels of circulating T3 reduced PD-1 expression in Tregs, impaired Tregs function, and disrupted T-helper cell (Th1 and Th2) balance in mice treated with T3. Conclusions Tregs dysfunction in GD patients might be due to down-regulation of PD-1 expression in Tregs induced by high levels of serum T3.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 5119-5119
Author(s):  
Annie Levesque ◽  
Ann-Louise Savard ◽  
Denis-Claude Roy ◽  
Francine Foss ◽  
Christian Scotto

Abstract Although the risk of graft versus host disease (GvHD) can be reduced by improved donor-recipient matching and by the depletion of T cells before transplantation, GvHD still develops in 30–70% of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients. The chronic phase of the disease (cGvHD), for which the pathogenesis is similar to autoimmune diseases, involves profound immune dysregulation leading to both immunodeficiency and autoimmunity. Standard therapies for cGvHD such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are associated with high toxicity and have demonstrated limited efficacy in patients with extensive disease. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been shown by others in the clinic as a non-aggressive and beneficial alternative treatment for cGvHD, inducing Th1/Th2 immunomodulation that restores immunological tolerance. Celmed has developed an alternative approach to eliminate immunoreactive T cells using the Theralux™ photodynamic cell therapy (PDT) system based on the use of the rhodamine-123 derivative TH9402 illuminated ex vivo with a visible light source (λ =514nm). It has been suggested that the apoptotic cells, when returned to the patient, may be able to modulate the immune system as seen with other ECP methods. We aimed to evaluate in vivo and in vitro the possibility of also using the Theralux™ system in the ECP setting. A preliminary mouse model suggested that splenic T cells pre-treated with the Theralux™ system were able to induce an improvement of overall survival (p<0.05) in mice with acute GvHD. Additionally, we developed a simplified PDT process and conducted a series of experiments with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from healthy volunteers. These studies have shown that the intra- and inter-donor variability in TH9402 incorporation are very low (~5% and 10%, respectively). A dose-effect study has shown a relationship of the PDT conditions with the levels of cell death, allowing significant control of the level of apoptosis induced. Phenotypic analyses have shown that this process results in an increase of AnnexinV positive cells as well as a decrease in the absolute number of CD3+ cells, CD19+/CD20+ cells and CD14+ cells and an increase in CD11c+ cells. This would suggest that apoptosis could be induced in both autoreactive T and B cells which could potentially stimulate an immune response against them. Moreover, the increase in CD11c+ cells combined with the decrease in CD14+ cells could reflect the maturation of macrophages into dendritic cells that are very potent antigen presenting cells. The mechanism by which these specific PDT conditions induce cell death is still under investigation but preliminary studies have shown that the cell death in unselected resting PBMCs may be caspase-independent. Finally, the evaluation of the effect of PDT on samples from cGvHD patients also demonstrated the capacity of this treatment strategy to induce apoptosis in these cells. Based on these data, we intend to begin a pilot clinical study evaluating two controlled PDT conditions inducing different levels of apoptosis in order to assess the safety and biological effect of the Theralux™ ECP system to treat patients with cGvHD.


Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
pp. 4701-4707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel D. Collins ◽  
Garret C. Newbound ◽  
Björn Albrecht ◽  
Jennifer L. Beard ◽  
Lee Ratner ◽  
...  

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiologic agent of adult T-cell leukemia and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy. Novel, yet conserved RNA transcripts encoded from open reading frames (ORFs) I and II of the viral pX region are expressed both in vitro and in infected individuals. The ORF I mRNA encodes the protein p12I, which has been shown to localize to cellular endomembranes, cooperate with bovine papillomavirus E5 in transformation, as well as bind to the IL-2 receptor β and γ chains and the H+ vacuolar ATPase. It is unknown what role p12I plays in the viral life cycle. Using an infectious molecular clone of HTLV-1 (ACH) and a derivative clone, ACH.p12I, which fails to produce the p12Imessage, we investigated the importance of p12I in infected primary cells and in a rabbit model of the infection. ACH.p12I was infectious in vitro as shown by viral passage in culture and no qualitative or quantitative differences were noted between ACH and ACH.p12I in posttransfection viral antigen production. However, in contrast to ACH, ACH.p12I failed to establish persistent infection in vivo as indicated by reduced anti-HTLV-1 antibody responses, failure to demonstrate viral p19 antigen production in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures, and only transient detection of provirus by polymerase chain reaction in PBMC from ACH.p12I-inoculated rabbits. These results are the first to show the essential role of HTLV-1 p12I in the establishment of persistent viral infection in vivo and suggest potential new targets in antiviral strategies to prevent HTLV-1 infection.


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