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Zani A, Messali S, Uggeri M, Bonfanti C, Caruso A, Caccuri F. Detection of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 in sera of viremic and aviremic patients. J Virol Methods 2024; 324:114858. [PMID: 38029970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2023.114858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
People living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), even if successfully treated with a combined antiretroviral therapy, display a persistent inflammation and chronic immune activation, and an increasing risk of developing cardiovascular and thrombotic events, cancers, and neurologic disorders. Accumulating evidence reveals that biologically active HIV-1 proteins may play a role in the development of these HIV-1-associated conditions. The HIV-1 matrix protein p17 (p17) is released and accumulates in different organs and tissue where it may exert multiple biological activities on different target cells. To assess a role of p17 in different HIV-1-related pathological processes, it is central to definitively ascertain and quantitate its expression in a large number of sera obtained from HIV-1-infected (HIV-1+) patients. To this aim, we developed a specific and highly sensitive p17 capture immunoenzymatic assay. Data obtained highlight a heterogeneous expression of p17 in blood of tested patients, with patients who were negative or displayed from low to relatively high p17 blood concentrations (range from 0.05 to 7.29 nM). Moreover, we found that blood p17 concentration was totally independent from the viremic status of the patient. This finding calls for monitoring HIV-1+ patients in order to evaluate a possible correlation between p17 amount in blood and the likelihood of developing HIV-1-related pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Messali
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Matteo Uggeri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Carlo Bonfanti
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
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McLaurin KA, Cranston MN, Li H, Mactutus CF, Harrod SB, Booze RM. Synaptic dysfunction is associated with alterations in the initiation of goal-directed behaviors: Implications for HIV-1-associated apathy. Exp Neurol 2022; 357:114174. [PMID: 35863502 PMCID: PMC9990912 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) exhibit an increased prevalence of neuropsychiatric comorbities (e.g., apathy) relative to their seronegative counterparts. Given the profound functional consequences associated with apathy, characterizing the multidimensional neuropsychiatric syndrome, and associated neural mechanisms, following chronic HIV-1 viral protein exposure remains a critical need. HIV-1-associated apathy was examined by quantifying goal-directed behaviors, indexed using voluntary wheel running, during the diurnal and nocturnal cycle. Apathetic behaviors in the HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rat were characterized by a profound decrease in the number of running bouts during both the diurnal and nocturnal cycle, supporting a prominent deficit in the self-initiation of spontaneous behaviors. Additionally, HIV-1 Tg animals exhibited a decreased reinforcing efficacy of voluntary wheel running during the nocturnal cycle. Following the completion of voluntary wheel running, synaptic dysfunction in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) was examined as a potential neural mechanism underlying HIV-1-associated apathy. HIV-1 Tg animals displayed prominent synaptic dysfunction in MSNs of the NAcc, characterized by enhanced dendritic branching complexity and a population shift towards an immature dendritic spine phenotype relative to control animals. Synaptic dysfunction, which accounted for 42.0% to 68.5% of the variance in the number of running bouts, was strongly associated with the self-initiation of spontaneous behaviors. Establishment of the relationship between synaptic dysfunction and apathy affords a key target for the development of novel therapeutics and cure strategies for affective alterations associated with HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen A McLaurin
- Cognitive and Neural Science Program, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States of America
| | - Michael N Cranston
- Cognitive and Neural Science Program, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States of America
| | - Hailong Li
- Cognitive and Neural Science Program, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States of America
| | - Charles F Mactutus
- Cognitive and Neural Science Program, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States of America
| | - Steven B Harrod
- Cognitive and Neural Science Program, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States of America
| | - Rosemarie M Booze
- Cognitive and Neural Science Program, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States of America.
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HIV-1 mutants expressing B cell clonogenic matrix protein p17 variants are increasing their prevalence worldwide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2122050119. [PMID: 35763571 PMCID: PMC9271197 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122050119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In the combined antiretroviral therapy era, lymphomas still represent the most frequent cause of death in HIV-1-infected patients. We expand previous observations dealing with the prevalence of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants (vp17s), characterized by peculiar amino acid insertions and endowed of B cell clonogenic activity, in HIV-1 patients with lymphoma as compared with patients without lymphoma. We show that the prevalence of HIV-1 mutants expressing vp17s is increasing worldwide over time. Moreover, we describe a cluster of HIV-1 mutants expressing a B cell clonogenic vp17 and highlight that insertions can be fixed and that viruses displaying clonogenic vp17s are actively spreading. This knowledge advocates for an extensive genomic surveillance program to monitor the evolution of such mutant virions worldwide. AIDS-defining cancers declined after combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) introduction, but lymphomas are still elevated in HIV type 1 (HIV-1)–infected patients. In particular, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHLs) represent the majority of all AIDS-defining cancers and are the most frequent cause of death in these patients. We have recently demonstrated that amino acid (aa) insertions at the HIV-1 matrix protein p17 COOH-terminal region cause protein destabilization, leading to conformational changes. Misfolded p17 variants (vp17s) strongly impact clonogenic B cell growth properties that may contribute to B cell lymphomagenesis as suggested by the significantly higher frequency of detection of vp17s with COOH-terminal aa insertions in plasma of HIV-1–infected patients with NHL. Here, we expand our previous observations by assessing the prevalence of vp17s in large retrospective cohorts of patients with and without lymphoma. We confirm the significantly higher prevalence of vp17s in lymphoma patients than in HIV-1–infected individuals without lymphoma. Analysis of 3,990 sequences deposited between 1985 and 2017 allowed us to highlight a worldwide increasing prevalence of HIV-1 mutants expressing vp17s over time. Since genomic surveillance uncovered a cluster of HIV-1 expressing a B cell clonogenic vp17 dated from 2011 to 2019, we conclude that aa insertions can be fixed in HIV-1 and that mutant viruses displaying B cell clonogenic vp17s are actively spreading.
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Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type-1(HIV-1)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) remains an important neurological manifestation in HIV-1-infected (HIV+) patients. Furthermore, the HIV-1 matrix protein p17 (p17) detection in the central nervous system (CNS) and its ability to form toxic assemblies in the brain has been recently confirmed. Here we show for the first time using both an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model and in vivo biodistribution studies in healthy mice that p17 can cross the BBB. There is fast brain uptake with 0.35 ± 0.19% of injected activity per gram of tissue (I.A./g) two minutes after administration, followed by brain accumulation with 0.28 ± 0.09% I.A./g after 1 h. The interaction of p17 with the chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) at the surface of brain endothelial cells triggers transcytosis. The present study supports the hypothesis of a direct role of free p17 in neuronal dysfunction in HAND by demonstrating its intrinsic ability to reach the CNS. IMPORTANCE The number of patients affected by HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) ranges from 30 to 50% of HIV-infected (HIV+) patients. The mechanisms leading to HAND development need to be elucidated, but the role of secreted viral proteins, chemokines, and proinflammatory molecules appears to be clear. In particular, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents a route for entry into the central nervous system (CNS) thus playing an important role in HAND. Several findings suggest a key role for the HIV-1 matrix protein p17 (p17) as a microenvironmental factor capable of inducing neurocognitive disorders. Here we show, the ability of the p17 to cross the BBB and to reach the CNS thus playing a crucial role in neuronal dysfunction in HAND.
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Kammers K, Chen A, Monaco DR, Hudelson SE, Grant-McAuley W, Moore RD, Alter G, Deeks SG, Morrison CS, Eller LA, Blankson JN, Laeyendecker O, Ruczinski I, Eshleman SH, Larman HB. HIV Antibody Profiles in HIV Controllers and Persons With Treatment-Induced Viral Suppression. Front Immunol 2021; 12:740395. [PMID: 34512672 PMCID: PMC8428532 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.740395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Low HIV viral load is associated with delayed disease progression and reduced HIV transmission. HIV controllers suppress viral load to low levels in the absence of antiretroviral treatment (ART). We used an antibody profiling system, VirScan, to compare antibody reactivity and specificity in HIV controllers, non-controllers with treatment-induced viral suppression, and viremic non-controllers. Methods The VirScan library contains 3,384 phage-displayed peptides spanning the HIV proteome. Antibody reactivity to these peptides was measured in plasma from a Discovery Cohort that included 13 elite controllers, 27 viremic controllers, 12 viremic non-controllers, and 21 non-controllers who were virally suppressed on ART. Antibody reactivity to selected peptides was also assessed in an independent cohort of 29 elite controllers and 37 non-controllers who were virally suppressed on ART (Validation Cohort) and in a longitudinal cohort of non-controllers. Results In the Discovery Cohort, 62 peptides were preferentially targeted in HIV controllers compared to non-controllers who were virally suppressed on ART. These specificities were not significantly different when comparing controllers versus viremic non-controllers. Aggregate reactivity to these peptides was also high in elite controllers from the independent Validation Cohort. The 62 peptides formed seven clusters of homologous epitopes in env, gag, integrase, and vpu. Reactivity to one of these clusters located in gag p17 was inversely correlated with viral load set point in an independent cohort of non-controllers. Conclusions Antibody reactivity was low in non-controllers suppressed on ART, but remained high in viremic controllers despite viral suppression. Antibodies in controllers and viremic non-controllers were directed against epitopes in diverse HIV proteins; higher reactivity against p17 peptides was associated with lower viral load set point. Further studies are needed to determine if these antibodies play a role in regulation of HIV viral load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Kammers
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Athena Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Daniel R. Monaco
- Department of Pathology and the Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sarah E. Hudelson
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Wendy Grant-McAuley
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Richard D. Moore
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Galit Alter
- Department of Medicine, Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Steven G. Deeks
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Charles S. Morrison
- Behavioral, Epidemiologic and Clinical Sciences, Family Health International (FHI) 360, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Leigh A. Eller
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Joel N. Blankson
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Oliver Laeyendecker
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ingo Ruczinski
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Susan H. Eshleman
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: H. Benjamin Larman, ; Susan H. Eshleman,
| | - H. Benjamin Larman
- Department of Pathology and the Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: H. Benjamin Larman, ; Susan H. Eshleman,
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Bugatti A, Caccuri F, Filippini F, Ravelli C, Caruso A. Binding to PI(4,5)P 2 is indispensable for secretion of B-cell clonogenic HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:100934. [PMID: 34273353 PMCID: PMC8350382 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants (vp17s) derived from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) tissues of HIV-1-seropositive (HIV+) patients promote B-cell growth by activating the Akt signaling pathway. It is fundamental to understand the role played by vp17s in producing a microenvironment that fosters lymphoma development and progression. Therefore, we asked whether vp17s could be secreted from infected cells in their biologically active form. In this study, we show that two B-cell growth-promoting vp17s, NHL-a101 and NHL-a102, characterized by amino acid insertions at position 117 to 118 (Ala-Ala) or 125 to 126 (Gly-Asn), respectively, are secreted from HIV-1-infected Jurkat T cells during the active phase of viral replication. Secretion of biologically active vp17s also occurred in HeLa cells nucleofected with a plasmid expressing the entire Gag gene, following proteolytic cleavage of the Gag precursor polyprotein (Pr55Gag) by cellular aspartyl proteases. Binding of Pr55Gag to phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate was indispensable for allowing the unconventional secretion of both wildtype p17 and vp17s. Indeed, here we demonstrate that inhibition of Pr55Gag binding to phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate by using neomycin, or its enzymatic depletion achieved by overexpression of 5ptaseIV, significantly impair the secretion of p17s. We also demonstrated that heparan sulfate proteoglycans were involved in tethering p17s at the cell surface. This finding opens up an interesting way for investigating whether tethered p17s on the surface of HIV-1 reservoirs may represent a likely target for immune-mediated killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cosetta Ravelli
- Section of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
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Giagulli C, Caccuri F, Zorzan S, Bugatti A, Zani A, Filippini F, Manocha E, D'Ursi P, Orro A, Dolcetti R, Caruso A. B-cell clonogenic activity of HIV-1 p17 variants is driven by PAR1-mediated EGF transactivation. Cancer Gene Ther 2020; 28:649-666. [PMID: 33093643 PMCID: PMC8203498 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-020-00246-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) for HIV-1 dramatically slows disease progression among HIV+ individuals. Currently, lymphoma represents the main cause of death among HIV-1-infected patients. Detection of p17 variants (vp17s) endowed with B-cell clonogenic activity in HIV-1-seropositive patients with lymphoma suggests their possible role in lymphomagenesis. Here, we demonstrate that the clonogenic activity of vp17s is mediated by their binding to PAR1 and to PAR1-mediated EGFR transactivation through Gq protein. The entire vp17s-triggered clonogenic process is MMPs dependent. Moreover, phosphoproteomic and bioinformatic analysis highlighted the crucial role of EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway in modulating several molecules promoting cancer progression, including RAC1, ABL1, p53, CDK1, NPM, Rb, PTP-1B, and STAT1. Finally, we show that a peptide (F1) corresponding to the vp17s functional epitope is sufficient to trigger the PAR1/EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway and bind PAR1. Our findings suggest novel potential therapeutic targets to counteract vp17-driven lymphomagenesis in HIV+ patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Giagulli
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simone Zorzan
- Plantech, Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology (LIST), L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Zani
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Filippini
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ekta Manocha
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Pasqualina D'Ursi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Technologies e National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20090, Segrate (MI), Italy
| | - Alessandro Orro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Technologies e National Research Council (ITB-CNR), 20090, Segrate (MI), Italy
| | - Riccardo Dolcetti
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Cancer Bio-Immunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico - IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
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Kardani K, Basimi P, Fekri M, Bolhassani A. Antiviral therapy for the sexually transmitted viruses: recent updates on vaccine development. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2020; 13:1001-1046. [PMID: 32838584 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2020.1814743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by viruses including human T cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1), human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), human simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human papillomavirus (HPV) are major public health issues. These infections can cause cancer or result in long-term health problems. Due to high prevalence of STIs, a safe and effective vaccine is required to overcome these fatal viruses. AREAS COVERED This review includes a comprehensive overview of the literatures relevant to vaccine development against the sexually transmitted viruses (STVs) using PubMed and Sciencedirect electronic search engines. Herein, we discuss the efforts directed toward development of effective vaccines using different laboratory animal models including mice, guinea pig or non-human primates in preclinical trials, and human in clinical trials with different phases. EXPERT OPINION There is no effective FDA approved vaccine against the sexually transmitted viruses (STVs) except for HBV and HPV as prophylactic vaccines. Many attempts are underway to develop vaccines against these viruses. There are several approaches for improving prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines such as heterologous prime/boost immunization, delivery system, administration route, adjuvants, etc. In this line, further studies can be helpful for understanding the immunobiology of STVs in human. Moreover, development of more relevant animal models is a worthy goal to induce effective immune responses in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Kardani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran, Iran
| | - Parya Basimi
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrshad Fekri
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran, Iran
| | - Azam Bolhassani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran, Iran
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Bianconi V, Schiaroli E, Pirro M, Cardaci S, Busti C, Mannarino MR, Baldelli F, Francisci D. Effects of antiretroviral therapy on proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9: focus on lipids, inflammation and immunovirological parameters. HIV Med 2020; 21:512-522. [PMID: 32496664 DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Plasma levels of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a major regulator of cholesterol metabolism, have been reported to have an increasing trend in people living with HIV (PLWH) compared with controls. We assessed the impact of different antiretroviral (ARV) regimens on plasma PCSK9 levels as well as plasma lipids, systemic inflammation and immunovirological parameters. METHODS Eighty HIV-positive ARV therapy (ART)-naïve PLWH and 40 uninfected controls were retrospectively enrolled. At baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months after ART initiation, plasma PCSK9 levels, lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4 T-cell count were measured. RESULTS Baseline PCSK9 levels were significantly more elevated in PLWH and were associated with HIV-1 RNA levels (P < 0.001), CD4 T-cell counts (P < 0.001), triglycerides (P < 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P < 0.001), but not with total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) levels. The prescription of ART was paralleled by significant decreases in plasma PCSK9 and hs-CRP levels, and increases in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein(a), independent of regimen. CONCLUSIONS PCSK9 levels, along with systemic inflammation, were progressively reduced following the initiation of an effective ART. However, at the end of the study PCSK9 levels remained higher than in controls and did not correlate with any of the lipid variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Bianconi
- Unit of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - E Schiaroli
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - M Pirro
- Unit of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - S Cardaci
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - C Busti
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - M R Mannarino
- Unit of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - F Baldelli
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - D Francisci
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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10
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He W, Mazzuca P, Yuan W, Varney K, Bugatti A, Cagnotto A, Giagulli C, Rusnati M, Marsico S, Diomede L, Salmona M, Caruso A, Lu W, Caccuri F. Identification of amino acid residues critical for the B cell growth-promoting activity of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1863:13-24. [PMID: 30248376 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants (vp17s) detected in HIV-1-infected patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (HIV-NHL) display, differently from the wild-type protein (refp17), B cell growth-promoting activity. Biophysical analysis revealed that vp17s are destabilized as compared to refp17, motivating us to explore structure-function relationships. METHODS We used: biophysical techniques (circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and thermal/GuHCL denaturation) to study protein conformation and stability; Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to study interactions; Western blot to investigate signaling pathways; and Colony Formation and Soft Agar assays to study B cell proliferation and clonogenicity. RESULTS By forcing the formation of a disulfide bridge between Cys residues at positions 57 and 87 we obtained a destabilized p17 capable of promoting B cell proliferation. This finding prompted us to dissect refp17 to identify the functional epitope. A synthetic peptide (F1) spanning from amino acid (aa) 2 to 21 was found to activate Akt and promote B cell proliferation and clonogenicity. Three positively charged aa (Arg15, Lys18 and Arg20) proved critical for sustaining the proliferative activity of both F1 and HIV-NHL-derived vp17s. Lack of any interaction of F1 with the known refp17 receptors suggests an alternate one involved in cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS The molecular reasons for the proliferative activity of vp17s, compared to refp17, relies on the exposure of a functional epitope capable of activating Akt. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Our findings pave the way for identifying the receptor(s) responsible for B cell proliferation and offer new opportunities to identify novel treatment strategies in combating HIV-related NHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangxiao He
- Center for Translational Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an, China.
| | - Pietro Mazzuca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Weirong Yuan
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Kristen Varney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Alfredo Cagnotto
- IRCCS Istituto Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Giagulli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Stefania Marsico
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
| | - Luisa Diomede
- IRCCS Istituto Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy.
| | - Mario Salmona
- IRCCS Istituto Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy.
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Center for Translational Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an, China; Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
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11
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Porchetta A, Ippodrino R, Marini B, Caruso A, Caccuri F, Ricci F. Programmable Nucleic Acid Nanoswitches for the Rapid, Single-Step Detection of Antibodies in Bodily Fluids. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:947-953. [PMID: 29313682 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b09347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Antibody detection plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of pathogens and monitoring the success of vaccine immunization. However, current serology techniques require multiple, time-consuming washing and incubation steps, which limit their applicability in point-of-care (POC) diagnostics and high-throughput assays. We developed here a nucleic acid nanoswitch platform able to instantaneously measure immunoglobulins of type G and E (IgG and IgE) levels directly in blood serum and other bodily fluids. The system couples the advantages of target-binding induced colocalization and nucleic acid conformational-change nanoswitches. Due to the modular nature of the recognition platform, the method can potentially be applied to the detection of any antibody for which an antigen can be conjugated to a nucleic acid strand. In this work we show the sensitive, fast and cost-effective detection of four different antibodies and demonstrate the possible use of this approach for the monitoring of antibody levels in HIV+ patients immunized with AT20 therapeutic vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Porchetta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome , Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Rudy Ippodrino
- Ulisse BioMed S.r.l. , Area Science Park, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Bruna Marini
- Ulisse BioMed S.r.l. , Area Science Park, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia Medical School , Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia Medical School , Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Ricci
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome , Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
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12
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Caccuri F, Giordano F, Barone I, Mazzuca P, Giagulli C, Andò S, Caruso A, Marsico S. HIV-1 matrix protein p17 and its variants promote human triple negative breast cancer cell aggressiveness. Infect Agent Cancer 2017; 12:49. [PMID: 29021819 PMCID: PMC5613317 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-017-0160-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The introduction of cART has changed the morbidity and mortality patterns affecting HIV-infected (HIV+) individuals. The risk of breast cancer in HIV+ patients has now approached the general population risk. However, breast cancer has a more aggressive clinical course and poorer outcome in HIV+ patients than in general population, without correlation with the CD4 or virus particles count. These findings suggest a likely influence of HIV-1 proteins on breast cancer aggressiveness and progression. The HIV-1 matrix protein (p17) is expressed in different tissues and organs of successfully cART-treated patients and promotes migration of different cells. Variants of p17 (vp17s), characterized by mutations and amino acid insertions, differently from the prototype p17 (refp17), also promote B-cell proliferation and transformation. Methods Wound-healing assay, matrigel-based invasion assay, and anchorage-independent proliferation assay were employed to compare the biological activity exerted by refp17 and three different vp17s on the triple-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB 231. Intracellular signaling was investigated by western blot analysis. Results Motility and invasiveness increased in cells treated with both refp17 and vp17s compared to untreated cells. The effects of the viral proteins were mediated by binding to the chemokine receptor CXCR2 and activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. However, vp17s promoted MDA-MB 231 cell growth and proliferation in contrast to refp17-treated or not treated cells. Conclusions In the context of the emerging role of the microenvironment in promoting and supporting cancer cell growth and metastatic spreading, here we provide the first evidence that exogenous p17 may play a crucial role in sustaining breast cancer cell migration and invasiveness, whereas some p17 variants may also be involved in cancer cell growth and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia , Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Giordano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Ines Barone
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Pietro Mazzuca
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia , Brescia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Giagulli
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia , Brescia, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Andò
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia , Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefania Marsico
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
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13
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Zeinolabediny Y, Caccuri F, Colombo L, Morelli F, Romeo M, Rossi A, Schiarea S, Ciaramelli C, Airoldi C, Weston R, Donghui L, Krupinski J, Corpas R, García-Lara E, Sarroca S, Sanfeliu C, Slevin M, Caruso A, Salmona M, Diomede L. HIV-1 matrix protein p17 misfolding forms toxic amyloidogenic assemblies that induce neurocognitive disorders. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10313. [PMID: 28871125 PMCID: PMC5583282 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10875-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) remains an important neurological manifestation that adversely affects a patient’s quality of life. HIV-1 matrix protein p17 (p17) has been detected in autoptic brain tissue of HAND individuals who presented early with severe AIDS encephalopathy. We hypothesised that the ability of p17 to misfold may result in the generation of toxic assemblies in the brain and may be relevant for HAND pathogenesis. A multidisciplinary integrated approach has been applied to determine the ability of p17 to form soluble amyloidogenic assemblies in vitro. To provide new information into the potential pathogenic role of soluble p17 species in HAND, their toxicological capability was evaluated in vivo. In C. elegans, capable of recognising toxic assemblies of amyloidogenic proteins, p17 induces a specific toxic effect which can be counteracted by tetracyclines, drugs able to hinder the formation of large oligomers and consequently amyloid fibrils. The intrahippocampal injection of p17 in mice reduces their cognitive function and induces behavioral deficiencies. These findings offer a new way of thinking about the possible cause of neurodegeneration in HIV-1-seropositive patients, which engages the ability of p17 to form soluble toxic assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Zeinolabediny
- School of Healthcare Science, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK
| | - Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazza del Mercato 15, 25121, Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Colombo
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via G. La Masa 19, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Morelli
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via G. La Masa 19, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - Margherita Romeo
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via G. La Masa 19, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rossi
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via G. La Masa 19, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Schiarea
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via G. La Masa 19, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - Carlotta Ciaramelli
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Airoldi
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Ria Weston
- School of Healthcare Science, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK
| | - Liu Donghui
- School of Healthcare Science, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK
| | - Jerzy Krupinski
- School of Healthcare Science, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK.,Hospital Universitari Mútua de Terrassa, Department of Neurology, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rubén Corpas
- Institut d'Investigaciones Biomèdiques de Barcelona, CSIC and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisa García-Lara
- Institut d'Investigaciones Biomèdiques de Barcelona, CSIC and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.,University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Sara Sarroca
- Institut d'Investigaciones Biomèdiques de Barcelona, CSIC and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Coral Sanfeliu
- Institut d'Investigaciones Biomèdiques de Barcelona, CSIC and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mark Slevin
- School of Healthcare Science, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK.,University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Targu Mures, Romania.,Department of Pathology/Medicine, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Piazza del Mercato 15, 25121, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mario Salmona
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via G. La Masa 19, 20156, Milano, Italy
| | - Luisa Diomede
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via G. La Masa 19, 20156, Milano, Italy.
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14
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Therapeutic vaccines and immunological intervention in HIV infection: a paradigm change. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2017; 11:576-584. [PMID: 27607591 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose is to review current knowledge of immunological interventions in HIV infection and discuss strategies for the establishment of functional cure and/or HIV eradication. RECENT FINDINGS Therapeutic vaccines and cytokines have been historically the immunological interventions developed with the objective to enhance the HIV-specific cell-mediated immune responses and to suppress virus replication. Both these interventions have shown only partial antiviral effects. The recent identification and generation of human broad neutralizing antibodies provides potent immunological intervention associated with effective suppression of virus replication in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. Furthermore, the identification that the major HIV cell reservoir containing replication competent and infectious virus is composed by programed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) positive memory CD4 T cells offers the opportunity to target directly the HIV cell reservoir with anti-PD-1 antibodies. Anti-PD-1 antibody therapy may be also critical to prevent exhaustion of CD8 T cells. SUMMARY The availability of a diverse armamentarium of immunological intervention offers the opportunity to investigate the efficacy of the combined use of different immunological interventions in inducing prolonged virus suppression in the absence of antiretroviral therapy and functional cure HIV or HIV eradication.
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15
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Role of Autophagy in HIV-1 Matrix Protein p17-Driven Lymphangiogenesis. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.00801-17. [PMID: 28592537 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00801-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
AIDS-related lymphomas (ARLs) are expected to increase in the future since combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) enhances the life expectancy of HIV-1-infected (HIV+) patients but does not affect the occurrence of ARLs to the same extent as that of other tumors. Lymphangiogenesis is essential in supporting growth and metastatic spreading of ARLs. HIV-1 does not infect the neoplastic B cells, but HIV-1 proteins have been hypothesized to play a key role in sustaining a prolymphangiogenic microenvironment in lymphoid organs. The HIV-1 matrix protein p17 is detected in blood and accumulates in the germinal centers of lymph nodes of HIV+ patients under successful cART. The viral protein displays potent lymphangiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo This is, at least in part, mediated by the secretion of the lymphangiogenic factor endothelin-1, suggesting that activation of a secretory pathway sustains the lymphangiogenic activity of p17. Here, we show that the p17 lymphangiogenic activity occurs on human lymph node-derived lymphatic endothelial cells (LN-LECs) under stress conditions only and relies entirely on activation of an autophagy-based pathway. In fact, induction of autophagy by p17 promotes lymphangiogenesis, whereas pharmacological and genetic inhibition of autophagy inhibits p17-triggered lymphangiogenesis. Similarly, the vasculogenic activity of p17 was totally inhibited in autophagy-incompetent mice. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized role of autophagy in lymphangiogenesis and open the way to identify novel treatment strategies aimed at inhibiting aberrant tumor-driven lymphangiogenesis in HIV+ patients.IMPORTANCE AIDS-related lymphomas (ARLs) are the most common malignancies in HIV-1-infected (HIV+) patients after the introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Lymphangiogenesis is of critical importance in sustaining growth and metastasis of ARLs. Indeed, enhanced lymphangiogenesis occurs in the lymph nodes of HIV+ patients under successful cART. The HIV-1 matrix protein p17 is detected in blood and accumulates in the lymph node germinal centers even in the absence of virus replication. Several findings suggest a key role for p17 as a microenvironmental factor capable of promoting lymphangiogenesis. Here, we show that p17 promotes lymphangiogenesis of human lymph node-derived lymphatic endothelial cells (LN-LECs). The lymphangiogenic activity of p17 is sustained by an autophagy-based pathway that enables LN-LECs to release prolymphangiogenic factors into the extracellular microenvironment. Our findings indicate that specific targeting of autophagy may provide an important new tool for treating ARLs.
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Caccuri F, Iaria ML, Campilongo F, Varney K, Rossi A, Mitola S, Schiarea S, Bugatti A, Mazzuca P, Giagulli C, Fiorentini S, Lu W, Salmona M, Caruso A. Cellular aspartyl proteases promote the unconventional secretion of biologically active HIV-1 matrix protein p17. Sci Rep 2016; 6:38027. [PMID: 27905556 PMCID: PMC5131311 DOI: 10.1038/srep38027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The human immune deficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) matrix protein p17 (p17), although devoid of a signal sequence, is released by infected cells and detected in blood and in different organs and tissues even in HIV-1-infected patients undergoing successful combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Extracellularly, p17 deregulates the function of different cells involved in AIDS pathogenesis. The mechanism of p17 secretion, particularly during HIV-1 latency, still remains to be elucidated. A recent study showed that HIV-1-infected cells can produce Gag without spreading infection in a model of viral latency. Here we show that in Gag-expressing cells, secretion of biologically active p17 takes place at the plasma membrane and occurs following its interaction with phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate and its subsequent cleavage from the precursor Gag (Pr55Gag) operated by cellular aspartyl proteases. These enzymes operate a more complex Gag polypeptide proteolysis than the HIV-1 protease, thus hypothetically generating slightly truncated or elongated p17s in their C-terminus. A 17 C-terminal residues excised p17 was found to be structurally and functionally identical to the full-length p17 demonstrating that the final C-terminal region of p17 is irrelevant for the protein’s biological activity. These findings offer new opportunities to identify treatment strategies for inhibiting p17 release in the extracellular microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caccuri
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Iaria
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Campilongo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Kristen Varney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alessandro Rossi
- IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Schiarea
- IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Bugatti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Pietro Mazzuca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Giagulli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Fiorentini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mario Salmona
- IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" Milan, Italy
| | - Arnaldo Caruso
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy
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17
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Huang Y, Zhang L, Jolliffe D, Hovden AO, Ökvist M, Pantaleo G, Sommerfelt MA. A case for preART-adjusted endpoints in HIV therapeutic vaccine trials. Vaccine 2016; 34:1282-8. [PMID: 26826543 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Revised: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trial of Vacc-4x, a peptide-based therapeutic HIV-1 p24(Gag) vaccine candidate, 135 HIV-infected participants (vaccine:placebo=92:43) received a series of six immunizations while on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). At week 28, all participants underwent an analytical treatment interruption (ATI) for up to 24 weeks. preART VL appeared to be higher among Vacc-4x recipients. Based on a previous analysis, during ATI viral load (VL) appeared to be lower in Vacc-4x recipients, but no difference in CD4 level was observed between Vacc-4x and placebo groups. We propose fold-change-based endpoints and report comparative analyses accounting for imbalanced preART VL and missing data. METHODS All analyses included per-protocol (PP) participants who received the full immunization and underwent ATI. Linear regression models were used to identify predictors of study endpoints and to estimate the vaccine effect based on fold changes in CD4 counts or VL over preART values at week 40 or at set-point (geometric mean over weeks 48 and 52 values). We adjusted for potential baseline factors and used a multiple imputation approach to account for missing endpoints due to cART resumption or dropout. P-values were adjusted for multiple comparisons using q-values. RESULTS preART VL and CD4 count were significant predictors of study endpoints. The vaccine recipients had a higher fold change in week 40 CD4 counts (vaccine vs. placebo mean fold-change difference=0.08; p=0.02; q=0.03), a higher fold change in CD4 count set-point (0.06; p=0.06; q=0.07), a lower fold change in week 40 VL (-0.47; p=0.03; q=0.05), and a lower fold change in VL set-point (-0.50; p=0.02; q=0.03). CONCLUSIONS These exploratory analyses consistently suggested that Vacc-4x provided positive effects on both CD4 counts and VL. Future HIV therapeutic vaccine studies may adopt similar preART-adjusted endpoints and missing data imputation methods in vaccine effect evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunda Huang
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Lily Zhang
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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Timilsina U, Gaur R. Modulation of apoptosis and viral latency - an axis to be well understood for successful cure of human immunodeficiency virus. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:813-824. [PMID: 26764023 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of the deadly disease AIDS, which is characterized by the progressive decline of CD4(+)T-cells. HIV-1-encoded proteins such as envelope gp120 (glycoprotein gp120), Tat (trans-activator of transcription), Nef (negative regulatory factor), Vpr (viral protein R), Vpu (viral protein unique) and protease are known to be effective in modulating host cell signalling pathways that lead to an alteration in apoptosis of both HIV-infected and uninfected bystander cells. Depending on the stage of the virus life cycle and host cell type, these viral proteins act as mediators of pro- or anti-apoptotic signals. HIV latency in viral reservoirs is a persistent phenomenon that has remained beyond the control of the human immune system. To cure HIV infections completely, it is crucial to reactivate latent HIV from cellular pools and to drive these apoptosis-resistant cells towards death. Several previous studies have reported the role of HIV-encoded proteins in apoptosis modulation, but the molecular basis for apoptosis evasion of some chronically HIV-infected cells and reactivated latently HIV-infected cells still needs to be elucidated. The current review summarizes our present understanding of apoptosis modulation in HIV-infected cells, uninfected bystander cells and latently infected cells, with a focus on highlighting strategies to activate the apoptotic pathway to kill latently infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uddhav Timilsina
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, South Asian University, New Delhi- 110021, India
| | - Ritu Gaur
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, South Asian University, New Delhi- 110021, India
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Renga B, Francisci D, Carino A, Marchianò S, Cipriani S, Chiara Monti M, Del Sordo R, Schiaroli E, Distrutti E, Baldelli F, Fiorucci S. The HIV matrix protein p17 induces hepatic lipid accumulation via modulation of nuclear receptor transcriptoma. Sci Rep 2015; 5:15403. [PMID: 26469385 PMCID: PMC4606811 DOI: 10.1038/srep15403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is the second most common cause of mortality in HIV-infected persons. Exactly how HIV infection per se affects liver disease progression is unknown. Here we have investigated mRNA expression of 49 nuclear hormone receptors (NRs) and 35 transcriptional coregulators in HepG2 cells upon stimulation with the HIV matrix protein p17. This viral protein regulated mRNA expression of some NRs among which LXRα and its transcriptional co-activator MED1 were highly induced at mRNA level. Dissection of p17 downstream intracellular pathway demonstrated that p17 mediated activation of Jak/STAT signaling is responsible for the promoter dependent activation of LXR. The treatment of both HepG2 as well as primary hepatocytes with HIV p17 results in the transcriptional activation of LXR target genes (SREBP1c and FAS) and lipid accumulation. These effects are lost in HepG2 cells pre-incubated with a serum from HIV positive person who underwent a vaccination with a p17 peptide as well as in HepG2 cells pre-incubated with the natural LXR antagonist gymnestrogenin. These results suggest that HIV p17 affects NRs and their related signal transduction thus contributing to the progression of liver disease in HIV infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Renga
- Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Section of gastroenterology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Daniela Francisci
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious diseases, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Adriana Carino
- Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Section of gastroenterology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Silvia Marchianò
- Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Section of gastroenterology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sabrina Cipriani
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious diseases, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Monti
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Rachele Del Sordo
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Schiaroli
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious diseases, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Franco Baldelli
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious diseases, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Fiorucci
- Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Section of gastroenterology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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20
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Focà E, Iaria ML, Caccuri F, Fiorentini S, Motta D, Giagulli C, Castelli F, Caruso A. Long-lasting humoral immune response induced in HIV-1-infected patients by a synthetic peptide (AT20) derived from the HIV-1 matrix protein p17 functional epitope. HIV CLINICAL TRIALS 2015; 16:157-62. [PMID: 26057863 DOI: 10.1179/1528433614z.0000000018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A therapeutic vaccination based on a synthetic peptide (AT20) representative of the HIV-1 matrix protein p17 (p17) functional region, coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) AT20-KLH was capable of inducing the production of high-avidity antibodies (Abs) toward a previous untargeted p17 hotspot of functional activity in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-treated HIV-1-infected patients. Since avidity of Abs after immunization and the retention of antigens are important in sustaining the long-lasting production of specific humoral responses, we asked whether AT20-KLH vaccination would result in development of a long-lived immune response. METHODS The long-term duration of Ab response to AT20-KLH has been evaluated in 10 patients previously enrolled for the AT20-KLH vaccination trial at day 898 post-immunization. Ab titer and their avidity was assessed using specifically designed ELISA assays, whereas their neutralizing capacity was estimated in vitro using a 'wound sealing assay'. RESULTS Data obtained show that high titers of specific anti-AT20 Abs were maintained at more than 2 years after the last immunization. Furthermore, these Abs were capable to neutralize exogenous p17, as assessed by ability of sera derived from AT20-KLH-immunized patients to block the ability of p17 to promote cell migration in vitro. CONCLUSION This finding attests for a successful AT20-KLH vaccine molecule formulation and for an effective HAART-dependent Ab persistence.
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21
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Arenaccio C, Manfredi F, Anticoli S, Chiozzini C, Federico M. Uncovering the role of defective HIV-1 in spreading viral infection. Future Virol 2015. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl.15.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Defective HIV-1 genomes populate blood cells of HIV-1 infected patients, especially during HAART treatment. They can express viral proteins which, if released, may induce bystander effects favoring viral spread. Here, we review recent literature regarding the effects of extracellular HIV-1 proteins which can act as effectors of transcriptionally active, defective HIV-1, including Gag p17, Env gp120, Vpr, Tat and Nef. It has been very recently described that, different to the other HIV products, the bystander effects of Nef can be mediated by exosomes, that is, nanovesicles constitutively released by all cell types. Exosomes from Nef-expressing cells induce cell activation and HIV-1 susceptibility in resting CD4+ T lymphocytes in a TNF-α-dependent way. This mechanism likely contributes to virus persistence in HAART-treated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Simona Anticoli
- National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Lafeuillade A, Wainberg M, Gougeon ML, Loes SKD, Halfon P, Tissot-Dupont H. Highlights from the 2014 International Symposium on HIV & Emerging Infectious Diseases (ISHEID): from cART management to the end of the HIV pandemic. AIDS Res Ther 2014; 11:28. [PMID: 25165483 PMCID: PMC4145833 DOI: 10.1186/1742-6405-11-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The 2014 International Symposium on HIV and Emerging Infectious Diseases (ISHEID) provided a forum for investigators to hear the latest research developments in the clinical management of HIV and HCV infections as well as HIV cure research. Combined anti-retroviral therapy (c-ART) has had a profound impact on the disease prognosis and transformed this infection into a chronic disease. However, HIV is able to persist within the infected host and the pandemic is still growing. The main 2014 ISHEID theme was, hence "Together for a world without HIV and AIDS". In this report we not only give details on this main topic but also summarize what has been discussed in the areas of HCV coinfection and present a short summary on currently emerging viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marie-Lise Gougeon
- Antiviral Immunity, Biotherapy and Vaccine Unit, Infection and Epidemiology Department, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France
| | - Sabine Kinloch-de Loes
- Royal Free Center for HIV Medicine, Department of Infection and Immunity, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Philippe Halfon
- Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Department, European Hospital and Alphabio Laboratory, Marseille, France
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Renga B, Francisci D, Schiaroli E, Carino A, Cipriani S, D'Amore C, Sidoni A, Sordo RD, Ferri I, Lucattelli M, Lunghi B, Baldelli F, Fiorucci S. The HIV matrix protein p17 promotes the activation of human hepatic stellate cells through interactions with CXCR2 and Syndecan-2. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94798. [PMID: 24736615 PMCID: PMC3988079 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) p17 is a matrix protein involved in virus life's cycle. CXCR2 and Syndecan-2, the two major coreceptors for the p17 protein, are expressed in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), a key cell type involved in matrix deposition in liver fibrotic disorders. AIM In this report we have investigated the in vitro impact of p17 on HSCs transdifferentiation and function and underlying signaling pathways involved in these processes. METHODS LX-2 cells, a human HSC line, and primary HSC were challenged with p17 and expressions of fibrogenic markers and of p17 receptors were assessed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Downstream intracellular signaling pathways were evaluated with qRT-PCR and Western blot as well as after pre-treatment with specific pathway inhibitors. RESULTS Exposure of LX2 cells to p17 increases their contractile force, reshapes the cytoskeleton fibers and upregulates the expression of transdifferentiation markers including αSMA, COL1α1 and endothelin-1 through the activation of Jak/STAT and Rho signaling pathways. These effects are lost in HSCs pre-incubated with a serum from HIV positive person who underwent a vaccination with a p17 peptide. Confocal laser microscopy studies demonstrates that CXCR2 and syndecan-2 co-associate at the plasma membrane after exposure to p17. Immunostaining of HIV/HCV liver biopsies from co-infected patients reveals that the progression of liver fibrosis correlates with a reduced expression of CXCR2. CONCLUSIONS The HIV matrix protein p17 is pro-fibrogenic through its interactions both with CXCR2 and syndecan-2 on activated HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Renga
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Daniela Francisci
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Schiaroli
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Adriana Carino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sabrina Cipriani
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Claudio D'Amore
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Angelo Sidoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Rachele Del Sordo
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ivana Ferri
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | | | - Franco Baldelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefano Fiorucci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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