HIV-1 proteins in infected cells determine the presentation of viral peptides by HLA class I and class II molecules and the nature of the cellular and humoral antiviral immune responses--a review

Association of TAP 1 and 2 gene polymorphisms with human immunodeficiency virus-tuberculosis co-infection

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I binding peptides are carried from cytosol to the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP), an integral ER membrane protein composed of two subunits, TAP1 and TAP2. Polymorphism in TAP genes may influence these proteins further affecting the antigen peptide presentation, indirectly resulting in the viral escape mechanism from cell-mediated immunity in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Our aim was to study the influence of these polymorphism in study groups with HIV-tuberculosis (TB) (n = 110), TB (n = 105), and HIV (n = 130) compared with healthy controls (n = 183), using the tetraprimer amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-polymerase chain reaction method. Our results demonstrated that the GG genotype at TAP1 position 333 and GA genotype at TAP1 position 637 were positively associated with HIV-TB co-infection and these genotypes may act as a risk factor for developing TB co-infection in HIV-positive individuals.

HIV-1 gp120 binding to dendritic cell receptors mobilize the virus to the lymph nodes, but the induced IL-4 synthesis by FcepsilonRI+ hematopoietic cells damages the adaptive immunity--a review, hypothesis, and implications

HIV-1 is equipped with the envelope gp160 glycoprotein for interaction with Langerhans cells (LCs) and dendritic cells (DCs), the members of the innate immune system, which confront the virus at the portal of virus entry in the human body. These cells are equipped with receptors by which they bind and endocytose the virus. The gp120 glycoprotein is used for binding to CD4 receptor and CCR5 co-receptor of T helper 2 (Th2) cells and the virions shed gp120 is able to induce FcepsilonRI+ hematopoietic cells to produce IL-4, which inactivate the host adaptive immune response. The properties of gp120s various functional domains are analyzed together with the regulatory viral proteins, which are involved in the damage to T and B cells during HIV-1 replication. The interaction of HIV-1 virions through their gp120 with LCs and DCs at the portal of virus entry will be discussed. A hypothesis will be presented that the understanding of the role of the different functional domains of gp120 in the life cycle of the virus and during AIDS will help in the design of approaches to prevent and abrogate HIV-1 infection and AIDS.

Phorbol esters and SDF-1 induce rapid endocytosis and down modulation of the chemokine receptor CXCR4

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 is required, together with CD4, for entry by some isolates of HIV-1, particularly those that emerge late in infection. The use of CXCR4 by these viruses likely has profound effects on viral host range and correlates with the evolution of immunodeficiency. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), the ligand for CXCR4, can inhibit infection by CXCR4-dependent viruses. To understand the mechanism of this inhibition, we used a monoclonal antibody that is specific for CXCR4 to analyze the effects of phorbol esters and SDF-1 on surface expression of CXCR4. On human T cell lines SupT1 and BC7, CXCR4 undergoes slow constitutive internalization (1.0% of the cell surface pool/min). Addition of phorbol esters increased this endocytosis rate >6-fold and reduced cell surface CXCR4 expression by 60 to 90% over 120 min. CXCR4 was internalized through coated pits and coated vesicles and subsequently localized in endosomal compartments from where it could recycle to the cell surface after removal of the phorbol ester. SDF-1 also induced the rapid down modulation (half time approximately 5 min) of CXCR4. Using mink lung epithelial cells expressing CXCR4 and a COOH-terminal deletion mutant of CXCR4, we found that an intact cytoplasmic COOH-terminal domain was required for both PMA and ligand-induced CXCR4 endocytosis. However, experiments using inhibitors of protein kinase C indicated that SDF-1 and phorbol esters trigger down modulation through different cellular mechanisms. SDF-1 inhibited HIV-1 infection of mink cells expressing CD4 and CXCR4. The inhibition of infection was less efficient for CXCR4 lacking the COOH-terminal domain, suggesting at least in part that SDF-1 inhibition of virus infection was mediated through ligand-induced internalization of CXCR4. Significantly, ligand induced internalization of CXCR4 but not CD4, suggesting that CXCR4 and CD4 do not normally physically interact on the cell surface. Together these studies indicate that endocytosis can regulate the cell-surface expression of CXCR4 and that SDF-1-mediated down regulation of cell-surface coreceptor expression contributes to chemokine-mediated inhibition of HIV infection.

Development of FIV-specific cytolytic T-lymphocyte responses in cats upon immunisation with FIV vaccines

Vaccine protection has been achieved in cats against experimental infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Such protection has been attributed to FIV-specific humoral immunity, as well as cellular immunity of unknown mechanism(s). Since cell-mediated immunity plays a crucial role in the clearance of viral infections, this study evaluated the role of FIV-specific CTL in vaccine prophylaxis. Cats were immunised with inactivated FIV vaccines, reported to have > 90% vaccine efficacy. Significant levels of specific CTL activity were detected following the third immunisation. CTL activity persisted for several months and could be enhanced through a booster immunisation. The levels of CTL activity were comparable to those induced by a recombinant canarypoxvirus based FIV vaccine. These results suggest a possible role for CTL-mediated immunity in vaccine protection against FIV infection in cats.

Computer simulations to identify in polyproteins of FMDV OK1 and A12 strains putative nonapeptides with amino acid motifs for binding to BoLA class I A11 and A20 haplotype molecules

The computer program "Findpatterns" was used to search FMDV- (OK1 and A12 strains) coded structural and nonstructural proteins for the availability of putative proteasome-generated nonapeptides with motifs reported for BoLA class I A11 and A20 haplotypes. These BoLA class I A11 and A20 nonapeptide motifs are identical to motifs of nonapeptides that interact with the peptide binding grooves of HLA class I B35 and B27 haplotypes, respectively. The computer findpattern program was used to analyze the FMDV-coded polyproteins for proteolytically cleavable nonapeptides with motifs for binding to the peptide binding grooves of BoLA class I A11 or 20 haplotypes. The computer simulations revealed that FMDV-infected cells (keratinocytes and antigen presenting cells. e.g., dendritic Langerhans cells in bovines) may be able to present viral nonapeptides to CD8+ cytolytic T cells (CTLs) in a BoLA-restricted manner. The role of the cellular arm of the immune response in the protection of bovines against FMDV is not known. Thus, the present computer analysis may encourage further experiments to develop a new generation of FMDV nonapeptide vaccines to stimulate the anti-FMDV cytolytic T cell response in bovine so this would complement the humoral immune response achieved by immunization with the inactivated virus vaccine.

Influence of combinations of human major histocompatibility complex genes on the course of HIV-1 infection

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes (HLA in humans) regulate the immune response to foreign antigens. Molecular and serologic techniques were used to identify products of HLA class I, class II and transporter (TAP) genes (also part of the MHC) in homosexual seroconverters to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Comprehensive statistical analysis produced an HLA profile that predicted time from HIV-1 infection to the onset of AIDS. The profile was developed in a cohort of 139 men and evaluated in a second unrelated cohort of 102 men. In the evaluation cohort, the profile discriminated a sixfold difference between groups with the shortest and longest times to AIDS (P = 0.001). These findings support current theory about control of antigen processing by HLA genes and have implications for immunopathogenesis of HIV-1 and other infections.

Computer simulations to predict the availability of peptides with known HLA class I motifs generated by proteolysis of dengue fever virus (DFV) type 1 structural and nonstructural proteins in infected cells

Cytotoxic T cells that recognize dengue fever viral (DFV) peptides were reported. To predict the cleavage pattern of DFV proteins by cytoplasmic proteasomes into nonapeptides with motifs fitting known HLA class I molecules, the computer program "Findpatterns" was used. In this study the combined amino acid motifs for proteolytic cleavages and the HLA class I haplotype-restricted peptides were analyzed. It was noted that putative peptides with motifs of HLA A2 and A68 were abundant compared with nonapeptides with motifs HLA A24, B8, B35, and B53. The possible interpretation of the computer analysis in explaining the cellular immune response in endogenous populations of endemic DF is discussed.

Computer simulations to predict the availability of peptides with known HLA class I motifs possibly generated by proteolysis of HIV-1 proteins in infected cells

Cytotoxic T cells that recognize HIV-1 peptides generated from all viral proteins were reported. To predict the cleavage pattern of HIV-1 proteins by cytoplasmic proteasomes into peptides with motifs fitting known HLA class I molecules, the computer program Findpatterns was used. In this paper the combined amino acids patterns for proteolytic cleavages and the HLA class I haplotype-restricted peptides motifs are studied. It was noted that peptides with motifs of HLA class I A2 and A68 were abundant compared with HLA class 5B2, B8, B53, and B35.