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Emert-Sedlak LA, Tice CM, Shi H, Alvarado JJ, Shu ST, Reitz AB, Smithgall TE. PROTAC-mediated degradation of HIV-1 Nef efficiently restores cell-surface CD4 and MHC-I expression and blocks HIV-1 replication. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:658-668.e14. [PMID: 38508197 PMCID: PMC11031313 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.02.004] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The HIV-1 Nef accessory factor enhances the viral life cycle in vivo, promotes immune escape of HIV-infected cells, and represents an attractive antiretroviral drug target. However, Nef lacks enzymatic activity and an active site, complicating traditional occupancy-based drug development. Here we describe the development of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) for the targeted degradation of Nef. Nef-binding compounds, based on an existing hydroxypyrazole core, were coupled to ligands for ubiquitin E3 ligases via flexible linkers. The resulting bivalent PROTACs induced formation of a ternary complex between Nef and the cereblon E3 ubiquitin ligase thalidomide-binding domain in vitro and triggered Nef degradation in a T cell expression system. Nef-directed PROTACs efficiently rescued Nef-mediated MHC-I and CD4 downregulation in T cells and suppressed HIV-1 replication in donor PBMCs. Targeted degradation is anticipated to reverse all HIV-1 Nef functions and may help restore adaptive immune responses against HIV-1 reservoir cells in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori A Emert-Sedlak
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Colin M Tice
- Fox Chase Therapeutics Discovery, Inc., Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Haibin Shi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - John J Alvarado
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Sherry T Shu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Allen B Reitz
- Fox Chase Therapeutics Discovery, Inc., Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Thomas E Smithgall
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
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2
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Crespo R, Ne E, Reinders J, Meier JI, Li C, Jansen S, Górska A, Koçer S, Kan TW, Doff W, Dekkers D, Demmers J, Palstra RJ, Rao S, Mahmoudi T. PCID2 dysregulates transcription and viral RNA processing to promote HIV-1 latency. iScience 2024; 27:109152. [PMID: 38384833 PMCID: PMC10879814 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 latency results from tightly regulated molecular processes that act at distinct steps of HIV-1 gene expression. Here, we characterize PCI domain-containing 2 (PCID2) protein, a subunit of the transcription and export complex 2 (TREX2) complex, to enforce transcriptional repression and post-transcriptional blocks to HIV-1 gene expression during latency. PCID2 bound the latent HIV-1 LTR (long terminal repeat) and repressed transcription initiation during latency. Depletion of PCID2 remodeled the chromatin landscape at the HIV-1 promoter and resulted in transcriptional activation and latency reversal. Immunoprecipitation coupled to mass spectrometry identified PCID2-interacting proteins to include negative viral RNA (vRNA) splicing regulators, and PCID2 depletion resulted in over-splicing of intron-containing vRNA in cell lines and primary cells obtained from PWH. MCM3AP and DSS1, two other RNA-binding TREX2 complex subunits, also inhibit transcription initiation and vRNA alternative splicing during latency. Thus, PCID2 is a novel HIV-1 latency-promoting factor, which in context of the TREX2 sub-complex PCID2-DSS1-MCM3AP blocks transcription and dysregulates vRNA processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Crespo
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Enrico Ne
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Julian Reinders
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jenny I.J. Meier
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Chengcheng Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne Jansen
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alicja Górska
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Selin Koçer
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tsung Wai Kan
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter Doff
- Proteomics Center, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee679a PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dick Dekkers
- Proteomics Center, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee679a PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Demmers
- Proteomics Center, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee679a PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert-Jan Palstra
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Shringar Rao
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tokameh Mahmoudi
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee622 PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Prins HAB, Crespo R, Lungu C, Rao S, Li L, Overmars RJ, Papageorgiou G, Mueller YM, Stoszko M, Hossain T, Kan TW, Rijnders BJA, Bax HI, van Gorp ECM, Nouwen JL, de Vries-Sluijs TEMS, Schurink CAM, de Mendonça Melo M, van Nood E, Colbers A, Burger D, Palstra RJ, van Kampen JJA, van de Vijver DAMC, Mesplède T, Katsikis PD, Gruters RA, Koch BCP, Verbon A, Mahmoudi T, Rokx C. The BAF complex inhibitor pyrimethamine reverses HIV-1 latency in people with HIV-1 on antiretroviral therapy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade6675. [PMID: 36921041 PMCID: PMC10017042 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade6675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Reactivation of the latent HIV-1 reservoir is a first step toward triggering reservoir decay. Here, we investigated the impact of the BAF complex inhibitor pyrimethamine on the reservoir of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). Twenty-eight PLWH on suppressive antiretroviral therapy were randomized (1:1:1:1 ratio) to receive pyrimethamine, valproic acid, both, or no intervention for 14 days. The primary end point was change in cell-associated unspliced (CA US) HIV-1 RNA at days 0 and 14. We observed a rapid, modest, and significant increase in (CA US) HIV-1 RNA in response to pyrimethamine exposure, which persisted throughout treatment and follow-up. Valproic acid treatment alone did not increase (CA US) HIV-1 RNA or augment the effect of pyrimethamine. Pyrimethamine treatment did not result in a reduction in the size of the inducible reservoir. These data demonstrate that the licensed drug pyrimethamine can be repurposed as a BAF complex inhibitor to reverse HIV-1 latency in vivo in PLWH, substantiating its potential advancement in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrieke A. B. Prins
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Raquel Crespo
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Cynthia Lungu
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Shringar Rao
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Letao Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ronald J. Overmars
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Yvonne M. Mueller
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mateusz Stoszko
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tanvir Hossain
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tsung Wai Kan
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bart J. A. Rijnders
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hannelore I. Bax
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Eric C. M. van Gorp
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan L. Nouwen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Theodora E. M. S. de Vries-Sluijs
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carolina A. M. Schurink
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mariana de Mendonça Melo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Els van Nood
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Angela Colbers
- Department of Pharmacy, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - David Burger
- Department of Pharmacy, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Robert-Jan Palstra
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Thibault Mesplède
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Peter D. Katsikis
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rob A. Gruters
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Birgit C. P. Koch
- Department of Pharmacy, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Annelies Verbon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Tokameh Mahmoudi
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Casper Rokx
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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4
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Crespo R, Rao S, Mahmoudi T. HibeRNAtion: HIV-1 RNA Metabolism and Viral Latency. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:855092. [PMID: 35774399 PMCID: PMC9237370 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.855092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infection remains non-curative due to the latent reservoir, primarily a small pool of resting memory CD4+ T cells bearing replication-competent provirus. Pharmacological reversal of HIV-1 latency followed by intrinsic or extrinsic cell killing has been proposed as a promising strategy to target and eliminate HIV-1 viral reservoirs. Latency reversing agents have been extensively studied for their role in reactivating HIV-1 transcription in vivo, although no permanent reduction of the viral reservoir has been observed thus far. This is partly due to the complex nature of latency, which involves strict intrinsic regulation at multiple levels at transcription and RNA processing. Still, the molecular mechanisms that control HIV-1 latency establishment and maintenance have been almost exclusively studied in the context of chromatin remodeling, transcription initiation and elongation and most known LRAs target LTR-driven transcription by manipulating these. RNA metabolism is a largely understudies but critical mechanistic step in HIV-1 gene expression and latency. In this review we provide an update on current knowledge on the role of RNA processing mechanisms in viral gene expression and latency and speculate on the possible manipulation of these pathways as a therapeutic target for future cure studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Crespo
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Shringar Rao
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tokameh Mahmoudi
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Tokameh Mahmoudi,
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