Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.6 (RNA polymerase)
34,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Mounting experimental evidence suggests that the TAT protein, released from human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-infected inflammatory cells, may genetically reprogram targeted cells within a localized environment to develop highly vascularized tumors of mesenchymal origin. The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family of polypeptides has gained general acceptance as initiators of angiogenesis and functions as potent mitogens for mesoderm-derived cells. To evaluate a potential biological relationship between TAT and acidic FGF (FGF-1), primary murine embryonic fibroblasts either were transfected with the viral transactivator or were transduced (retrovirally mediated) with a secreted, chimeric form of the human polypeptide growth factor, human stomach tumor/Kaposi's sarcoma (hst/KS)FGF-1. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, in situ immunohistochemical, heparin affinity, DNA synthesis, and transient transfection techniques were used to confirm expression, localization, and functionality of the transgenes. Both transfected and transduced cells constitutively expressing either TAT or (hst/KS)FGF-1 adopted a transformed phenotype, maintained aggressive growth behavior, and demonstrated both induction of FGF-specific phosphotyrosyl proteins and nuclear association of FGF-1 and FGF-1 receptor. Increased levels of endogenous, murine FGF-1 mRNA (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) and protein (immunoblot analysis) were apparent in both (hst/KS)FGF-1- and TAT-transformed cells. Medium conditioned by (hst/KS)FGF-1-transduced cells contained steady-state levels of biologically active FGF-1 which exhibited a representative molecular weight. Limited sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the conditioned medium from TAT-transformed cells demonstrated the appearance of FGF-1 as latent, high molecular weight complexes requiring reducing agents to activate full biological activity. Collectively, these results suggest that TAT induces the expression and secretion of FGF-1, which may be potentially relevant to the pathophysiological development of AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma.
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PMID:The HIV-1 TAT protein induces the expression and extracellular appearance of acidic fibroblast growth factor. 754 39

Cytokines, in particular IFN-gamma and IL-12, are important in host protection against infection with Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is a major cause of congenital infection and morbidity in immunosuppressed persons, especially those with AIDS. IL-7, a monomeric protein produced by bone marrow stromal cells and fetal thymus, is able to induce the proliferation of pro-B cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and to enhance cytotoxicity of CTL and NK cells. Inbred mice were infected with a lethal dose of T. gondii and given IL-7 twice daily. Mice treated with IL-7 beginning at the time of infection survived, whereas mice either treated after infection or not treated died. Phenotypic analysis of splenocytes identified an expansion of NK (asialo GM1+) cells and CD8+ T cell populations. In vivo depletion of NK (asialo GM1+) and CD8+ T cells showed that cells expressing these phenotypes were important for maintaining protection against the parasite. IFN-gamma depletion resulted in complete reversal of the protective effect of IL-7 administration. In vivo depletion of endogenous IL-7 enhanced susceptibility to infection. Cytokine analysis by semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR showed that IL-7 enhances the IFN-gamma response and furthermore reverses the parasite-mediated down-regulatory response on IL-2. These observations indicate that exogenous administration of human rIL-7 is able to protect mice against acute parasite challenge by stimulating IFN-gamma production and augmenting the CD8+ T cell-mediated CTL response.
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PMID:IL-7 stimulates protective immunity in mice against the intracellular pathogen, Toxoplasma gondii. 759 82

Reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibiting antibody in a series of plasma of HIV-1-seropositive subjects was quantitatively measured by poly A-linked colorimetric microtiter plate assay. The plasma were obtained from 6 asymptomatic carrier (AC)s and from 3 patients who progressed to AIDS. They had been followed 29-51 months. RT inhibiting antibody levels in the plasma were measured by inhibition assay against HTLV-IIIB RT activity. In five of the 6 AC cases, RT inhibiting antibodies in the serial plasma maintained high levels, and 50% inhibiting titers of the serial plasma did not decrease throughout the observation periods (45-51 months). HIV isolation from peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of these 5 ACs did not succeed, and HIV p24 antigens were not detected in the plasma. In one AC case (046) RT inhibiting antibody levels gradually decreased after 48 months. In this case, HIV p24 antigen was not detected in the serial plasma throughout the observation period (48 months), but HIV was isolated from PBMC after 27 months. On the other hand, RT inhibiting antibody levels in the serial plasma of all 3 patients who progressed to AIDS gradually decreased in observation periods (29-35 months). HIV strains were isolated from these 3 cases. These results suggest that reduction of RT inhibiting antibody levels correlate well with the success of HIV isolation and with progression of clinical manifestation.
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PMID:[Study on reverse transcriptase inhibiting antibody in plasma of HIV-1 seropositive subjects]. 759 75

Nystatin A was compared in vitro with amphotericin B, AZT, or foscarnet for their respective abilities to inhibit the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in H9 cells. HIV-1-infected H9 cells were cultured for 7 days in the presence of each of these drugs, at various concentrations. Reverse transcriptase activity and p24 antigen production were quantitated. Untreated, HIV-1-infected H9 cells served as the control. Nystatin A inhibited viral replication most effectively at 10 micrograms/ml, a concentration that did not affect cell viability. Nystatin-A treatment inhibited RT activity by 85% and p24 production by 90%. These levels of inhibition were comparable to that mediated by amphotericin B, AZT, or foscarnet at 10, 25, and 50 micrograms/ml, respectively. Western blot analysis of the HIV-1-infected H9 cells treated with these drugs did not detect any expression of viral proteins. These findings were further corroborated by indirect immunofluorescence studies using monoclonal anti-gp120 FITC-conjugated antibodies and by polymerase chain reaction for proviral DNA analysis, using a 32P-labeled probe. These results suggest that Nystatin A merits attention as an antiviral drug for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. In vivo drug delivery by liposome encapsulation to overcome problems of bioavailability is currently under study.
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 1993 May
PMID:Inhibition of HIV-1 replication in H9 cells by nystatin-A compared with other antiviral agents. 768 87

HIV PROTEINASE INHIBITORS: The HIV proteinase enzyme has been identified as a potential target for antiretroviral therapy, as inhibition of this enzyme leads to the generation of immature, non-infectious virions. There are several proteinase inhibitors in development; the first to enter clinical trials was saquinavir. DEVELOPMENT OF SAQUINAVIR: Saquinavir, a transition-stage analogue of an HIV proteinase cleavage site, was developed using computer-led rational design techniques. It is a highly specific inhibitor of HIV-1 and -2 proteinases, with antiviral activity at concentrations 1000-fold less than those causing cytotoxicity. EUROPEAN CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH SAQUINAVIR: Three European clinical studies involving 202 patients have been conducted with saquinavir at doses of 25, 75, 200 and 600 mg three times a day. Two studies were dose-ranging monotherapy trials, one in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients not previously treated with zidovudine, the other in patients with advanced HIV infection who had been treated with zidovudine. The third study was a combination therapy trial with zidovudine in previously untreated patients with advanced infection. Saquinavir was well tolerated either alone or in combination with zidovudine. In the monotherapy studies, CD4 cell counts and estimates of viral load showed the best results with the 600-mg dose. The combination of saquinavir and zidovudine resulted in higher and more sustained increases in CD4 cell counts than with either drug alone. The CD4 cell counts favoured saquinavir at 200 and 600 mg in combination with zidovudine, although plasma viraemia and the RNA polymerase chain reaction indicated that the 600-mg dose (in combination) produced better responses.
AIDS 1994 Sep
PMID:HIV therapy advances. Update on a proteinase inhibitor. 784 Sep 13

Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain amplification reactions (RT-PCR) were used to identify transcripts for HIV-1 structural and regulatory proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a cohort of 48 patients. At least one set of PCR primers was capable of detecting HIV-1 transcripts in 94% of patients. Unspliced gag-pol transcripts were detected with gag or pol primer sets in 60 and 63% of samples, respectively. A significant inverse correlation was noted between transcript identification with the gag primer set and the number of CD4-positive lymphocytes in the blood sample and the clinical stage of infection. Single-spliced env transcripts were identified in 44% of individuals. Multiple-spliced tat or nef transcripts were detected in 6.2 and 53% of individuals, respectively. These findings indicate that viral transcripts are expressed throughout the course of HIV-1 infection.
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 1993 Dec
PMID:Alterations in spliced and unspliced HIV-1-specific RNA detection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of individuals with varying CD4-positive lymphocyte counts. 790 12

Vaccine-induced, virus-specific CTLs may rapidly eliminate the host cells that first become infected after virus exposure, thereby preventing disseminated infection. Thus, there is much interest in the ability of candidate AIDS vaccines to elicit CTLs. All HIV-1 envelope (env) protein-based vaccines tested to date in seronegative humans induce CTLs from the CD4+ subset. Because the mechanism of cytolysis by CD4+ CTLs is controversial, a detailed study of the cytolytic reactions mediated by vaccine-induced, HIV-1-specific human CD4+ CTL clones was conducted. CD4+ CTL clones induced rapid destruction of Ag-pulsed target cells. Lysis was readily detectable within 15 min. Lysis was not a result of syncytium formation between CD4+ effector cells and env-expressing targets. Target cell destruction was not dependent upon de novo RNA or protein synthesis in either the effector or the target cell. Expression of perforin mRNA was detected by Northern blotting and reverse-transcriptase-PCR in CD4+ CTL clones but not in autologous B lymphoblastoid cell lines. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated perforin protein in cytoplasmic granules in CD4+ CTL clones. Lysis by CD4+ CTLs was strictly dependent upon extracellular Ca2+ and was highly specific, with no lysis of innocent bystander cells. DNA fragmentation was detectable in target cells, but did not precede 51Cr release. Taken together, these results provide a dramatically different view of cytolysis by human CD4+ CTLs. Target cells are lysed by a rapid and efficient mechanism that involves a preformed mediator and that is functionally similar to the mechanism used by CD8+ CTLs.
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PMID:Studies of the mechanism of cytolysis by HIV-1-specific CD4+ human CTL clones induced by candidate AIDS vaccines. 791 42

We describe a modification of the mammalian expression vector pRc/CMV, which drives expression of inserted genes from either the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early promoter or the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase promoter. The modification is designed to allow expression, simple purification and specific immunodetection of recombinant fusion proteins. The modified plasmid, termed pTag/CMV-neo, encodes a Kozak consensus ribosome-binding site (RBS) and a 30-amino acid fusion tag peptide. This peptide consists of a metal ion-binding site, (His)6, for single-step affinity purification using Ni(2+)-chelating resin and a multi-purpose HIV-1-derived peptide (p18HIV). This viral epitope can be used to identify, detect and characterize target fusion proteins in conjunction with a specific monoclonal antibody H902 that does not display cross-reactivity with cellular proteins. The H902 production hybridoma cell line is reagent #521 from the NIH AIDS Research and Reference Program.
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PMID:An efficient expression, purification and immunodetection system for recombinant gene products. 794 24

2',3'-Dideoxycytidine (ddC) is a nucleoside analogue and reverse-transcriptase inhibitor that is approved for treatment of AIDS patients. A rabbit model of ddC neurotoxicity was developed to help understand the dose-limiting clinical neurotoxicity of ddC. Rabbits with a myelinopathy resulting from treatment with ddC exhibited mitochondrial alterations in Schwann cells of sciatic and tibial nerves and dorsal root ganglia. These changes were initially evident after 16 weeks of oral treatment with 35 mg/kg per day of ddC and were positively correlated with myelin pathology in individual animals. Cup-shaped mitochondria were frequently observed; when these mitochondria occurred in multiple concentric arrays or at various angles to one another, different profiles were formed depending on the plane of section. An increased number of mitochondrial cristae assumed a tubular configuration. It is suggested that the complex aggregations of mitochondria seen in this experiment are an adaptive response to altered mitochondrial function caused by treatment with ddC.
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PMID:Schwann cell mitochondrial alterations in peripheral nerves of rabbits treated with 2',3'-dideoxycytidine. 814 Aug 96

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has been shown to be increased in brain tissue of AIDS patients and may function as a mediator of cerebral damage. We initiated a study to determine the cellular localization and degree of protein and mRNA expression of the two specific TNF-alpha receptors (TNF-Rs), p55 and p75, in brain tissues from AIDS patients. Cerebral white matter obtained at autopsy from 13 AIDS patients, 10 unhealthy controls, and 4 healthy controls was evaluated. Double-label immunohistochemistry revealed prominent up-regulation of p55 and p75 TNF-Rs on activated macrophages and microglial cells in all AIDS patients; no increased staining was found on astrocytes. Staining was most prominent in patients with opportunistic infection of the brain and in microglial nodules of patients with HIV encephalitis. Brain tissues also showed increased expression of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, cytokines known to up-regulate the TNF-Rs. Increased staining for TNF-Rs was also found in patients with multiple sclerosis, chronic cerebral edema, and radiation necrosis but not in an asymptomatic HIV-positive patient without AIDS. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction performed on adjacent sections from five AIDS patients revealed up-regulation from normal for p55 in all patients and for p75 in three patients. The up-regulation of both TNF-Rs in AIDS suggests that macrophages and microglial cells may be important in amplifying the TNF-alpha response.
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PMID:Increased expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptors in the brains of patients with AIDS. 854 30


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