HIV-1 envelope gp120 and viral particles block adenosine deaminase binding to human CD26

Adenosine deaminase-1 delineates human follicular helper T cell function and is altered with HIV

Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) play critical roles instructing, and initiating T-cell dependent antibody responses. The underlying mechanisms that enhance their function is therefore critical for vaccine development. Here we apply gene array analysis identifying adenosine deaminase (ADA) as a key molecule that delineates a human Tfh helper program in proliferating circulating Tfh (cTfh) cells and Germinal Centers Tfh (GC-Tfh). ADA-1 expression and enzymatic activity are increased in efficient cTfh2-17/GC-Tfh cells. Exogenous ADA-1 enhances less efficient cTfh1 and pro-follicular Tfh PD-1+ CXCR5+ cells to provide B cell help, while pharmacological inhibition of ADA-1 activity impedes cTfh2-17/GC-Tfh function and diminished antibody response. Mechanistically, ADA-1 controls the Tfh program by influencing IL6/IL-2 production, controlling CD26 extracellular expression and could balance signals through adenosine receptors. Interestingly, dysfunctional Tfh from HIV infected-individual fail to regulate the ADA pathway. Thus, ADA-1 regulates human Tfh and represents a potential target for development of vaccine strategy.

Mechanisms regulating airway nucleotides

In the respiratory system, extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides serve as signaling molecules for a wide spectrum of biological functions regulating airway defenses against infection and toxic material. Their concentrations are controlled by a complex network of cell surface enzymes named ectonucleotidases. This highly integrated metabolic network combines the activities of three dephosphorylating ectonucleotidases, namely nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases), nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (NPPs) and alkaline phosphatases (APs). Extracellular nucleotides are also inter-converted by the transphosphorylating activities of ecto adenylate kinase (ectoAK) and nucleoside diphosphokinase (NDPK). Different cell types use specific combinations of ectonucleotidases to regulate local concentrations of P2 receptor agonists (ATP, UTP, ADP and UDP). In addition, they provide AMP for the activity of ecto 5'-nucleotidase (ecto 5'-NT; CD73), which produces the P1 receptor agonist: adenosine (ADO). Finally, mechanisms are in place to prevent the accumulation of airway ADO, namely adenosine deaminases and nucleoside transporters. This chapter reviews the properties of each enzyme and transporter, and the current knowledge on their distribution and regulation in the airways.

Accelerated aging in HIV/AIDS: novel biomarkers of senescent human CD8+ T cells

Clinical evaluation of immune reconstitution and health status during HIV-1 infection and anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is largely based on CD4+ T cell counts and viral load, measures that fail to take into account the CD8+ T cell subset, known to show features of accelerated aging in HIV disease. Here, we compare adenosine deaminase (ADA), glucose uptake receptor 1 (GLUT1), and leucine-rich repeat neuronal 3 (LRRN3) to CD38 expression and telomerase activity, two strong predictors of HIV disease progression. Our analysis revealed that reduced ADA, telomerase activity and LRRN3 gene expression were significantly associated with high CD38 and HLA-DR in CD8+ T cells, with % ADA+ cells being the most robust predictor of CD8+ T cell activation. Our results suggest that ADA, LRRN3 and telomerase activity in CD8+ T cells may serve as novel, clinically relevant biomarkers of immune status in HIV-1 infection, specifically by demonstrating the degree to which CD8+ T cells have progressed to the end stage of replicative senescence. Since chronological aging itself leads to the accumulation of senescent CD8+ T cells, the prolonged survival and resultant increased age of the HIV+ population may synergize with the chronic immune activation to exacerbate both immune decline and age-associated pathologies. The identification and future validation of these new biomarkers may lead to fresh immune-based HIV treatments.

Adenosine deaminase modulation of telomerase activity and replicative senescence in human CD8 T lymphocytes

Increased proportions of CD8 T lymphocytes lacking expression of the CD28 costimulatory receptor have been documented during both aging and chronic infection with HIV-1, and their abundance correlates with numerous deleterious clinical outcomes. CD28-negative cells also arise in cell cultures of CD8(+)CD28(+) following multiple rounds of Ag-driven proliferation, reaching the end stage of replicative senescence. The present study investigates the role of a second T cell costimulatory receptor component, adenosine deaminase (ADA), on the process of replicative senescence. We had previously reported that CD28 signaling is required for optimal telomerase upregulation. In this study, we show that the CD8(+)CD28(+) T lymphocytes that are ADA(+) have significantly greater telomerase activity than those that do not express ADA and that ADA is progressively lost as cultures progress to senescence. Because ADA converts adenosine to inosine, cells lacking this enzyme might be subject to prolonged exposure to adenosine, which has immunosuppressive effects. Indeed, we show that chronic exposure of CD8 T lymphocytes to exogenous adenosine accelerates the process of replicative senescence, causing a reduction in overall proliferative potential, reduced telomerase activity, and blunted IL-2 gene transcription. The loss of CD28 expression was accelerated, in part due to adenosine-induced increases in constitutive caspase-3, known to act on the CD28 promoter. These findings provide the first evidence for a role of ADA in modulating the process of replicative senescence and suggest that strategies to enhance this enzyme may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for pathologies associated with increases in senescent CD8 T lymphocytes.

The level of CD26 determines the rate of HIV entry in a CD4+ T-cell line

We have reported that CD26 could serve as a cofactor of CD4 in HIV entry. Recently, more evidence has been provided for the implication of CD26 in HIV entry, replication and cytopathic effect. Along with, we have demonstrated that the level of CD26 may determine the rate of HIV-envelope induced-apoptosis. The role of CD26 in HIV entry was further investigated using CEM T-cell line. Clones were established by transfection, expressing different levels of CD26. Entry, infection and cytopathic effect were monitored in several independent clones, and were found to be delayed in clones CD26-Low and CD26-SuperHigh compared to clones CD26-High. The delay was most significant in clones CD26-AntiSense, without any apparent cytopathic effect. These results demonstrate that relatively enhanced levels of CD26 contribute to an increased virus infection. Furthermore, they illustrate that CD26-SuperHigh clones manifest a phenotype similar to CD26-Low clones. This point out the critical role of CD26 in the rate of HIV entry and its cytopathic effect, two events which are initiated by the interaction of HIV envelope glycoproteins with cell-surface CD4.