Alterations of 86Rb+ fluxes in poliovirus-infected HeLa cells and their dependence on virus replication

Role of potassium in human immunodeficiency virus production and cytopathic effects

Acute infection of CD4+ lymphoid cells by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) induces an increase in the intracellular concentration of potassium (K+). Media containing reduced or elevated concentrations of K+ were used to investigate the role of this ion in HIV-1 production and cytopathology. Incubation of CD4+ lymphoblastoid cells acutely infected by HIV-1 (strain LAI) in low K+ medium resulted in an approximately 50% decrease in HIV-1 production and markedly diminished HIV-1 induced cytopathic effects (CPE) relative to cells incubated in medium containing a normal K+ concentration (approximately 5 mM). Incubation of HIV-1 infected cells in media containing elevated concentrations of K+ medium. Cells mM) increased HIV-1 production by two- to fivefold over the amount produced in cells incubated in normal K+ medium. Cells incubated in high K+ media also displayed enhanced HIV-1-induced cytopathology. The decrease in HIV-1 production by low K+ medium and increase by high K+ media could be a accounted for by effects on HIV-1 reverse transcription. However, low K+ medium inhibited HIV-1 protein synthesis and high K+ media increased HIV-1 protein synthesis. These results suggest that the HIV-1-induced increase in intracellular is required for efficient viral replication and to induce cytopathology.

Inhibition of HIV type 1 production by hygromycin B

HIV infection alters the cellular uptake of ions and other small molecules. This study was designed to determine whether hygromycin B, a low molecular weight (MW 527) aminoglycoside protein synthesis inhibitor that is normally impermeable to mammalian cells at micromolar concentrations, can selectively inhibit HIV expression and cytopathology. CD4+ T lymphoblastoid cells (H9) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were infected with HIV-1, then incubated in medium containing various concentrations of hygromycin B. HIV-1-induced formation of multinucleated giant cells and single cell killing were dramatically reduced in the presence of micromolar concentrations of hygromycin B. Hygromycin B also inhibited HIV-1 production in a dose-dependent manner during acute infection. G418, a larger and more hydrophobic aminoglycoside (MW 692), did not display the same selective inhibition of HIV-1 production as hygromycin B. Relative to mock-infected cells, protein synthesis in acutely infected H9 cells was selectively inhibited by hygromycin B. Hygromycin B also reduced HIV production in PBMCs and in H9 cells persistently infected with HIV. PCR analysis demonstrated that hygromycin B did not inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcription. These results demonstrate that HIV-1 infection renders cells more sensitive to hygromycin B than uninfected cells, and provides support for the hypothesis that HIV-1 induces an alteration of plasma membrane permeability. The HIV-modified cell membrane may be a potential target for antiviral intervention and chemotherapy.

The Na+,K+,2Cl-cotransport system in HeLa cells: aspects of its physiological regulation

We have previously reported on the biochemical properties of a Na+,K+,2Cl-cotransport system in HeLa cells and here we deal with aspects of its physiological regulation. Na+,K+,2Cl-cotransport in HeLa cells was studied by 86Rb+ influx and 86Rb+/22Na+ efflux measurements. The effects of rat atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), isoproterenol, and amino acids on 86Rb+ flux, mediated by the bumetanide-sensitive Na+,K+,2Cl-cotransport system and the ouabain-sensitive Na+/K(+)-pump, were investigated. ANP reduced bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb+ influx under isotonic as well as under hypertonic conditions. Similar decrease of bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb+ influx was observed in the presence of 8-bromo-cGMP, while neither isoproterenol as a beta-receptor agonist nor 8-bromo-cAMP-could alter bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb+ influx. Furthermore, efflux of 86Rb+ and 22Na+ was greatly reduced in the presence of bumetanide and ANP. Together with our recent findings, showing functionally active, high affinity receptors for ANP on HeLa cells (Kort and Koch, Biochim. Biophys. Res. Commun. 168: 148-154, 1990), this study indicates that ANP participates in the regulation of the Na+,K+,2Cl-cotransport system in HeLa cells. Further measurements revealed that amino acids as present in the growth medium (Joklik's minimal essential medium) and the amino acid derivative alpha-methyl-aminoisobutyric acid (metAIB, 1 and 5 mM, respectively) also reduced Na+,K+,2Cl-cotransport-mediated 86Rb+ uptake and diminished the stimulatory effect of hypertonicity on the contransporter. In addition, the Na+/K(+)-pump was markedly stimulated in the presence of amino acids, while neither ANP and 8-Br-GMP nor isoproterenol and 8-Br-cAMP had a significant effect on the activity of the Na+/K(+)-pump.

Alteration of intracellular monovalent cation concentrations by a poliovirus mutant which encodes a defective 2A protease

Poliovirus mutant 2A-1, which encodes a defective protease 2A, fails to inhibit translation of capped mRNAs selectively. Despite the failure of 2A-1 to inactivate cap-dependent translation, a reduction in the overall rate of protein synthesis, both virus and cell-specified, does occur after 2A-1 infection. This global reduction in protein synthesis is temporally correlated with an increase in [Na+]i and a decrease in [K+]i. The extensive global shutoff of protein synthesis is not observed in 2A-1 infected cells incubated in low NaCl medium or medium containing an elevated concentration of KCl which compensate for the virally-induced alterations in intracellular monovalent cation concentrations. Furthermore, 2A-1-specified protein synthesis is only partly resistant to hypertonic NaCl media which increase [Na+]i, in contrast to protein synthesis specified by wild-type poliovirus. These results suggest that shutoff of host and viral protein synthesis during infection by poliovirus mutant 2A-1 is a consequence of the virus-induced changes in intracellular monovalent cation concentrations.

Modification of membrane permeability by animal viruses

Animal viruses modify membrane permeability during lytic infection. There is a co-entry of macromolecules and virion particules during virus penetration and a drastic change in transport and membrane permeability at the late stages of the lytic cycle. Both events are of importance to understand different molecular aspects of viral infection, as virus entry into the cell and the interference of virus infection with cellular metabolism. Other methods of cell permeabilization of potential relevance to understand the mechanism of viral damage of the membrane are also discussed.

Influence of medium amino acids on the ouabain sensitive and insensitive 86Rb+-fluxes in HeLa cells

Components of the 86Rb+-influx in HeLa cells were investigated in Joklik minimal essential medium, or in Earle's balanced salt solution with and without medium amino acids. The presence of amino acids led to the stimulation of the ouabain sensitive 86Rb+-uptake and inhibition of the diuretic-sensitive and residual 86Rb+-fluxes. These results show that the presence of amino acids is an important regulator of the K+/Rb+-fluxes under normal conditions in growth medium.