Chemokine receptors in HIV-1 and SIV infection

A clade C HIV-1 vaccine protects against heterologous SHIV infection by modulating IgG glycosylation and T helper response in macaques

The rising global HIV-1 burden urgently requires vaccines capable of providing heterologous protection. Here, we developed a clade C HIV-1 vaccine consisting of priming with modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) and boosting with cyclically permuted trimeric gp120 (CycP-gp120) protein, delivered either orally using a needle-free injector or through parenteral injection. We tested protective efficacy of the vaccine against intrarectal challenges with a pathogenic heterologous clade C SHIV infection in rhesus macaques. Both routes of vaccination induced a strong envelope-specific IgG in serum and rectal secretions directed against V1V2 scaffolds from a global panel of viruses with polyfunctional activities. Envelope-specific IgG showed lower fucosylation compared with total IgG at baseline, and most of the vaccine-induced proliferating blood CD4⁺ T cells did not express CCR5 and α4β7, markers associated with HIV target cells. After SHIV challenge, both routes of vaccination conferred significant and equivalent protection, with 40% of animals remaining uninfected at the end of six weekly repeated challenges with an estimated efficacy of 68% per exposure. Induction of envelope-specific IgG correlated positively with G1FB glycosylation, and G2S2F glycosylation correlated negatively with protection. Vaccine-induced TNF-α⁺ IFN-γ⁺ CD8⁺ T cells and TNF-α⁺ CD4⁺ T cells expressing low levels of CCR5 in the rectum at prechallenge were associated with decreased risk of SHIV acquisition. These results demonstrate that the clade C MVA/CycP-gp120 vaccine provides heterologous protection against a tier2 SHIV rectal challenge by inducing a polyfunctional antibody response with distinct Fc glycosylation profile, as well as cytotoxic CD8 T cell response and CCR5-negative T helper response in the rectum.

Functional Complexes of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 and Renin-Angiotensin System Receptors: Expression in Adult but Not Fetal Lung Tissue

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a membrane peptidase and a component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that has been found in cells of all organs, including the lungs. While ACE2 has been identified as the receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronaviruses, the mechanism underlying cell entry remains unknown. Human immunodeficiency virus infects target cells via CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)-mediated endocytosis. Furthermore, CXCR4 interacts with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (CD26/DPPIV), an enzyme that cleaves CXCL12/SDF-1, which is the chemokine that activates this receptor. By analogy, we hypothesized that ACE2 might also be capable of interactions with RAS-associated G-protein coupled receptors. Using resonance energy transfer and cAMP and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling assays, we found that human ACE2 interacts with RAS-related receptors, namely the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT₁R), the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT₂R), and the MAS1 oncogene receptor (MasR). Although these interactions lead to minor alterations of signal transduction, ligand binding to AT₁R and AT₂R, but not to MasR, resulted in the upregulation of ACE2 cell surface expression. Proximity ligation assays performed in situ revealed macromolecular complexes containing ACE2 and AT₁R, AT₂R or MasR in adult but not fetal mouse lung tissue. These findings highlight the relevance of RAS in SARS-CoV-2 infection and the role of ACE2-containing complexes as potential therapeutic targets.

Immunomodulatory effects mediated by serotonin

Serotonin (5-HT) induces concentration-dependent metabolic effects in diverse cell types, including neurons, entherochromaffin cells, adipocytes, pancreatic beta-cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, epithelial cells, and leukocytes. Three classes of genes regulating 5-HT function are constitutively expressed or induced in these cells: (a) membrane proteins that regulate the response to 5-HT, such as SERT, 5HTR-GPCR, and the 5HT₃-ion channels; (b) downstream signaling transduction proteins; and (c) enzymes controlling 5-HT metabolism, such as IDO and MAO, which can generate biologically active catabolites, including melatonin, kynurenines, and kynurenamines. This review covers the clinical and experimental mechanisms involved in 5-HT-induced immunomodulation. These mechanisms are cell-specific and depend on the expression of serotonergic components in immune cells. Consequently, 5-HT can modulate several immunological events, such as chemotaxis, leukocyte activation, proliferation, cytokine secretion, anergy, and apoptosis. The effects of 5-HT on immune cells may be relevant in the clinical outcome of pathologies with an inflammatory component. Major depression, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer disease, psoriasis, arthritis, allergies, and asthma are all associated with changes in the serotonergic system associated with leukocytes. Thus, pharmacological regulation of the serotonergic system may modulate immune function and provide therapeutic alternatives for these diseases.

G protein-coupled receptor APJ and its ligand apelin act downstream of Cripto to specify embryonic stem cells toward the cardiac lineage through extracellular signal-regulated kinase/p70S6 kinase signaling pathway

RATIONALE

Pluripotent stem cells represent a powerful model system to study the early steps of cardiac specification for which the molecular control is largely unknown. The EGF-CFC (epidermal growth factor-Cripto/FRL-1/Cryptic) Cripto protein is essential for cardiac myogenesis in embryonic stem cells (ESCs).

OBJECTIVE

Here, we study the role of apelin and its G protein-coupled receptor, APJ, as downstream targets of Cripto both in vivo and in ESC differentiation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Gain-of-function experiments show that APJ suppresses neuronal differentiation and restores the cardiac program in Cripto(-/-) ESCs. Loss-of-function experiments point for a central role for APJ/apelin in the gene regulatory cascade promoting cardiac specification and differentiation in ESCs. Remarkably, we show for the first time that apelin promotes mammalian cardiomyogenesis via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/p70S6 through coupling to a Go/Gi protein.

CONCLUSIONS

Together our data provide evidence for a previously unrecognized function of APJ/apelin in the Cripto signaling pathway governing mesoderm patterning and cardiac specification in mammals.

Serotonin decreases HIV-1 replication in primary cultures of human macrophages through 5-HT(1A) receptors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

5-HT (serotonin) is known to be involved in neuroinflammation and immunoregulation. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) targets cells such as monocytes/macrophages, which colocalize with 5-HT-releasing cell types, mostly platelets. In this study, we investigated the effects of 5-HT on HIV-1-infected macrophages in vitro.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Human macrophages cultured in serum-free medium were treated over 7 days with 5-HT at three concentrations (0.01, 1 and 100 microM) with or without agonists and antagonists of 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2) receptors. After 7 days of treatment, macrophages were infected with HIV-1/Ba-L and virus replication was monitored over 16 days and expression of proviral HIV DNA was investigated by PCR after 24 h of infection. Cell surface expression of HIV-1/Ba-L receptor (CD4) and coreceptor (CCR5) was investigated by flow cytometry. The CCR5 ligand, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), was quantified by ELISA in cell culture supernatants and MIP-1alpha mRNA expression was assessed by reverse transcriptase-PCR.

KEY RESULTS

In vitro, 5-HT downregulated the membranous expression of CCR5 and led to a decrease of HIV-1 infection, probably through its action on 5-HT(1A) receptors. 5-HT (100 microM) was also able to induce overexpression of MIP-1alpha mRNA leading to an increase of MIP-1alpha secretion by human macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The effects of 5-HT on HIV infection could be a consequence of the increase in MIP-1alpha concentrations and/or CCR5 receptor downregulation. These results suggest that 5-HT can inhibit the replication of HIV-1 in primary culture of human macrophages through its action on 5-HT(1A) receptors.

[Serotonin modulates HIV replication in primary culture of human macrophages: involvement of 5-HT(1A) sub-type receptors]

The neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), commonly known as serotonin, is released at peripheral sites from activated platelets. At inflammatory sites, macrophages and lymphocytes could be exposed to 5-HT concentrations up to 100 microM. Moreover, 5-HT could modulate cytokine secretion by monocytes/macrophages and immune functions through the uptake of 5-HT at these inflammatory sites from T cells and dendritic cells. HIV infection is also under the control of inflammatory processes (including T cell proliferation and cytokines secretion). On this basis, we studied explored herein the effects of 5-HT on HIV-1/Ba-L (macrophage-tropic virus) replication in primary cultures of human macrophages. This pharmacological study with isotype-selective receptor agonists and antagonist allowed us to show that the 100 microM 5-HT concentration via 5-HT(1A) subtype receptors could decrease HIV replication. This observation was associated with an increase of MIP-1alpha secretion such as an increase of MIP-1alpha mRNA production and with a decrease of HIV-coreceptor CCR5 cell surface expression. Our results point out for the first time the inhibitory effects of 5-HT on HIV replication in primary culture of human macrophages via activation of 5-HT(1A) subtype receptors.

Molecular cloning and radioligand binding characterization of the chemokine receptor CCR5 from rhesus macaque and human

The aim of this study was to determine if macaque represents a suitable species for the pre-clinical evaluation of novel CCR5 antagonists, such as maraviroc (UK-427,857). To do this we cloned and expressed CCR5 from rhesus macaque and compared the binding properties of [125I]-MIP-1beta and [3H]-maraviroc with human recombinant CCR5. [125I]-MIP-1beta bound with similar high affinity to CCR5 from macaque (K(d) = 0.24 +/- 0.05 nM) and human (K(d) = 0.23 +/- 0.05 nM) and with similar kinetic properties. In competition binding studies the affinity of a range of human chemokines for macaque CCR5 was also similar to human CCR5. Maraviroc inhibited binding of [125I]-MIP-1beta to CCR5 from macaque and human with similar potency (IC50 = 17.50 +/- 1.24 nM and 7.18 +/- 0.93 nM, respectively) and antagonised MIP-1beta induced intracellular calcium release mediated through CCR5 from macaque and human with similar potency (IC50 = 17.50 +/- 3.30 nM and 12.07 +/- 1.89, respectively). [3H]-maraviroc bound with high affinity to CCR5 from macaque (K(d) = 1.36+/-0.07 nM) and human (K(d) = 0.86 +/- 0.08 nM), but was found to dissociate approximately 10-fold more quickly from macaque CCR5. However, as with the human receptor, maraviroc was shown to be a high affinity, potent functional antagonist of macaque CCR5 thereby indicating that the macaque should be a suitable species in which to evaluate the pharmacology, safety and potential mechanism-related toxicology of novel CCR5 antagonists.

A CCR5-dependent novel mechanism for type 1 HIV gp120 induced loss of macrophage cell surface CD4

Type 1 HIV gp120 is especially effective in disrupting immune cell function because it is able to cause dysregulation of both infected and uninfected cells. We report a novel CCR5-dependent mechanism of gp120-induced CD4 loss from macrophages. An M-tropic gp120, using CCR5, is able to induce 70% loss of cell surface CD4 from macrophages within an hour. This cell surface CD4 loss is more substantial and rapid than the 20% loss observed with T-tropic gp120(IIIB) by 3 h. The rapid and substantial CD4 loss induced by M-tropic gp120 is not observed on macrophages homozygous for the ccr5Delta32 mutation, which fail to express cell surface CCR5. We have used confocal imaging to show that gp120 and CD4 are internalized together by a process resembling receptor-mediated endocytosis, and that both proteins enter HLA-DR containing compartments of the macrophage. We have also shown by semiquantitative RT-PCR that, in response to CD4 loss from the cell surface, mRNA for CD4 is up-regulated and the intracellular pool of CD4 increases. CCR5 mRNA levels are also increased. It is proposed that internalization of self and viral protein and increased pools of intracellular CD4 could modulate Ag presentation efficiencies and have implications for the induction and maintenance of both productive immune responses and self-tolerance.

Differential phosphorylation paradigms dictate desensitization and internalization of the N-formyl peptide receptor

Following activation by ligand, most G protein-coupled receptors undergo rapid phosphorylation. This is accompanied by a drastic decrease in the efficacy of continued or repeated stimulation, due to receptor uncoupling from G protein and receptor internalization. Such processing steps have been shown to be absolutely dependent on receptor phosphorylation in the case of the N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR). In this study, we report results that indicate that the mechanisms responsible for desensitization and internalization are distinct. Using site-directed mutagenesis of the serine and threonine residues of the FPR carboxyl terminus, we have characterized regions that differentially regulate these two processes. Whereas substitution of all 11 Ser/Thr residues in the carboxyl terminus prevents both desensitization and internalization, substitution of four Ser/Thr residues between 328-332 blocks desensitization but has no effect on internalization. Similarly, substitution of four Ser/Thr residues between positions 334 and 339 results in a deficit in desensitization but again no decrease in internalization, suggesting that phosphorylation at either site evokes receptor internalization, whereas maximal desensitization requires phosphorylation at both sites. These results also indicate that receptor internalization is not involved in the process of desensitization. Further analysis of the residues between 328-332 revealed that restoration either of Ser(328) and Thr(329) or of Thr(331) and Ser(332) was sufficient to restore desensitization, suggesting that phosphorylation within either of these two sites, in addition to sites between residues 334 and 339, is sufficient to produce desensitization. Taken together, these results indicate that the mechanisms involved in FPR processing (uncoupling from G proteins and internalization) are regulated differentially by phosphorylation at distinct sites within the carboxyl terminus of the FPR. The relevance of this paradigm to other G protein-coupled receptors is discussed.