Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019693 (HIV)
170,526 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The mechanisms of CD4(+) T-cell depletion during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection remain incompletely characterized. Of particular importance is how CD4(+) T cells are depleted within the lymphoid organs, including the lymph nodes and thymus. Herein we characterize the pathogenic mechanisms of an envelope from a rapid progressor (R3A Env) in the NL4-3 backbone (NL4-R3A) which is able to efficiently replicate and deplete CD4(+) thymocytes in the human fetal-thymus organ culture (HF-TOC). We demonstrate that uninterrupted replication is required for continual thymocyte depletion. During depletion, NL4-R3A induces an increase in thymocytes which uptake 7AAD, a marker of cell death, and which express active caspase-3, a marker of apoptosis. While 7AAD uptake is observed predominantly in uninfected thymocytes (p24(-)), active caspase-3 is expressed in both infected (p24(+)) and uninfected thymocytes (p24(-)). When added to HF-TOC with ongoing infection, the protease inhibitor saquinavir efficiently suppresses NL4-R3A replication. In contrast, the fusion inhibitors T20 and C34 allow for sustained HIV-1 production. Interestingly, T20 and C34 effectively prevent thymocyte depletion in spite of this sustained replication. Apoptosis of both p24(-) and p24(+) thymocytes appears to be envelope fusion dependent, as T20, but not saquinavir, is capable of reducing thymocyte apoptosis. Together, our data support a model whereby pathogenic envelope-dependent fusion contributes to thymocyte depletion in HIV-1-infected thymus, correlated with induction of apoptosis in both p24(+) and p24(-) thymocytes.
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PMID:Fusion-induced apoptosis contributes to thymocyte depletion by a pathogenic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope in the human thymus. 1695 34

To regulate the expression of the apoptotic gene, we constructed bicistronic DNA vaccines that encode for HIV env and caspase-3 mutant (casp 3m) that are expressed via the encephalomyocarditis virus internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) or cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-dependent translations. While IRES-casp 3m induced weak apoptosis and caused little reduction in antigen expression, CMV-casp 3m elicited strong apoptosis and led to a marked decrease in the antigen expression. Therefore, IRES-casp 3m augmented HIV-specific immune responses, and IRES-casp 3m induced significant protection against the vaccinia-HIV chimeric virus. These results suggest that the appropriate level of apoptosis is important for DNA vaccine development.
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PMID:The degree of apoptosis as an immunostimulant for a DNA vaccine against HIV-1 infection. 1707 59

Despite the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy, dementia caused by human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection remains a devastating and common neurological disorder. Although the mechanisms governing neurodegeneration during HIV-1 infection remain uncertain, the HIV-1 accessory protein, viral protein R (Vpr), has been proposed as a neurotoxic protein. Herein, we report that Vpr protein and transcript were present in the brains of HIV-infected persons. Moreover, soluble Vpr caused neuronal apoptosis, involving cytochrome c extravasation, p53 induction, and activation of caspase-9 while exerting a depressive effect on whole-cell currents in neurons (p < 0.05), which was inhibited by iberiotoxin. Vpr-activated glial cells secreted neurotoxins in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.001). Transgenic (Tg) mice expressing Vpr in brain monocytoid cells displayed the transgene principally in the basal ganglia (p < 0.05) and cerebral cortex (p < 0.01) compared with hindbrain expression. Vpr was released from cultured transgenic macrophages, which was cytotoxic to neurons and was blocked by anti-Vpr antibody (p < 0.05). Neuronal injury was observed in Tg animals compared with wild-type littermates, chiefly affecting GAD65 (p < 0.01) and vesicular acetylcholine transferase (p < 0.001) immunopositive neuronal populations in the basal ganglia. There was also a loss of subcortical synaptophysin (p < 0.001) immunoreactivity as well as an increase in activated caspase-3, which was accompanied by a hyperexcitable neurobehavioral phenotype (p < 0.05). Thus, HIV-1 Vpr caused neuronal death through convergent pathogenic mechanisms with ensuing in vivo neurodegeneration, yielding new insights into the mechanisms by which HIV-1 injures the nervous system.
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PMID:HIV-1 Vpr causes neuronal apoptosis and in vivo neurodegeneration. 1740 34

A painful neuropathy is frequently observed in people living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The HIV coat protein, glycoprotein 120 (gp120), implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders associated with HIV, is capable of initiating neurotoxic cascades via an interaction with the CXCR4 and/or CCR5 chemokine receptors, which may underlie the pathogenesis of HIV-associated peripheral neuropathic pain. In order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying HIV-induced painful peripheral neuropathy, we have characterised pathological events in the peripheral and central nervous system following application of HIV-1 gp120 to the rat sciatic nerve. Perineural HIV-1 gp120 treatment induced a persistent mechanical hypersensitivity (44% decrease from baseline), but no alterations in sensitivity to thermal or cold stimuli, and thigmotactic (anxiety-like) behaviour in the open field. The mechanical hypersensitivity was sensitive to systemic treatment with gabapentin, morphine and the cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2, but not with amitriptyline. Immunohistochemical studies reveal: decreased intraepidermal nerve fibre density, macrophage infiltration into the peripheral nerve at the site of perineural HIV-1 gp120; changes in sensory neuron phenotype including expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in 27% of cells, caspase-3 in 25% of cells, neuropeptide Y (NPY) in 12% of cells and galanin in 13% of cells and a spinal gliosis. These novel findings suggest that this model is not only useful for the elucidation of mechanisms underlying HIV-1-related peripheral neuropathy but may prove useful for preclinical assessment of drugs for the treatment of HIV-1 related peripheral neuropathic pain.
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PMID:Pharmacological, behavioural and mechanistic analysis of HIV-1 gp120 induced painful neuropathy. 1743 46

Cultured cortical neurons exposed to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus gp120 coat protein undergo apoptosis involving activation of both caspase-8 and caspase-9. Additionally, gp120-mediated neuronal apoptosis requires the pro-apoptotic transcription factor p53. As caspase-8-induced apoptosis does not typically require p53, we examined the possibility of a novel role for p53 in caspase-8 activation initiated by gp120. We observed that gp120 treatment of cultured cortical neurons induced caspase-8 activity and Bid cleavage independently of p53, but induction of caspase-3 enzymatic activity required p53 expression. These findings suggested the possibility that p53 down-regulates a caspase-3 inhibitor. We observed high-level expression of the caspase-3/9 inhibitor X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in cultured cortical neurons. Adenoviral expression of p53 or induction of endogenous p53 by camptothecin treatment reduced XIAP protein in neurons. Infection with a p53 expressing adenovirus increased expression of the mRNA for Omi/HtrA2, a protease that cleaves and inactivates XIAP. These findings suggest that p53 regulates neuronal apoptosis, in part, by suppressing the anti-apoptotic protein XIAP via transcriptional activation of Omi/HtrA2.
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PMID:Activation of the extrinsic caspase pathway in cultured cortical neurons requires p53-mediated down-regulation of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein to induce apoptosis. 1748 72

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific CD4(+) T cell cytokine secretion is characteristically weak during HIV infection, in part because HIV-specific CD4(+) T cells undergo massive apoptotic deletion. Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family-related (GITR) protein triggering enhances murine antigen-specific T cell cytokine secretion by protecting T cells from apoptosis. Therefore, we investigated the impact of GITR triggering on HIV-specific CD4(+) T cell cytokine secretion and on apoptosis of HIV-specific CD4(+) T cells. In HIV-infected subjects, CD4(+) T cell surface expression of GITR was greater than that in uninfected control subjects, and phytohemagglutinin induction of additional GITR expression was impaired. However, antibody triggering of GITR significantly increased HIV-specific CD4(+) T cell expression of TNF- alpha and interferon (IFN)- gamma . The percentage increase in HIV-specific CD4(+) T cell expression of TNF- alpha correlated directly with the absolute peripheral CD4(+) T cell count. Furthermore, GITR triggering reduced the expression of intracellular activated caspase-3 in HIV-specific CD4(+) T cells. Taken together, these data suggest that, despite abnormal GITR expression during HIV infection, GITR triggering enhances HIV-specific CD4(+) T cell cytokine expression and protects HIV-specific CD4(+) T cells from apoptosis.
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PMID:Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related protein triggering enhances HIV-specific CD4+ T cell cytokine secretion and protects HIV-specific CD4+ T cells from apoptosis. 1753 82

Human immunodeficiency virus dementia (HIV-D) is a nonfocal central nervous system manifestation characterized by cognitive, behavioral, and motor abnormalities. The pathophysiology of neuronal damage in HIV-D includes a direct toxic effect of viral proteins on neuronal cells and an indirect effect caused by the release of inflammatory mediators and neurotoxins by activated macrophages/microglia and astrocytes, culminating into neuronal apoptosis. Previous studies have documented that the nucleoside adenosine mediates neuroprotection by activating adenosine A(1) receptor subtype (A(1)AR) linked to suppression of neuronal excitability. In this study, we show that A(1)AR activation protects against HIV-1 Tat-induced toxicity in primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule neurons and in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell. In PC12 cells, HIV-1 Tat increased [Ca(2+)](i) levels, release of nitric oxide (NO), and expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) and A(1)AR. Activation of A(1)AR suppressed Tat-mediated increases in [Ca(2+)](i) and NO. Furthermore, A(1)AR agonists inhibited iNOS expression in a nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)-dependent manner. It is noteworthy that activation of the A(1)AR or inhibition of NOS protected against Tat-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells and cerebellar granule cells. Moreover, activation of the A(1)AR-inhibited Tat-induced increases in the levels of proapoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the A(1)AR protects against HIV-1 toxicity by inhibiting NF-kappaB, thereby reducing the expression of iNOS and NO radicals and neuronal apoptosis.
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PMID:Activation of the adenosine A1 receptor inhibits HIV-1 tat-induced apoptosis by reducing nuclear factor-kappaB activation and inducible nitric-oxide synthase. 1760 15

Numerous reports now indicate that HIV patients administered long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) are at a greater risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. Endothelial dysfunction is an initiating event in atherogenesis and may contribute to HIV-associated atherosclerosis. We previously reported that ART induces direct endothelial dysfunction in rodents. In vitro treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with ART indicated endothelial mitochondrial dysfunction and a significant increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we determined whether ART-induced endothelial dysfunction is mediated via mitochondria-derived ROS and whether this mitochondrial injury culminates in endothelial cell apoptosis. Two major components of ART combination therapy, a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and a protease inhibitor, were tested, using AZT and indinavir as representatives for each. Microscopy utilizing fluorescent indicators of ROS and mitochondria demonstrated the mitochondrial localization of ART-induced ROS. MnTBAP, a cell-permeable metalloporphyrin antioxidant, abolished ART-induced ROS production. As a final step in confirming the mitochondrial origin of the ART-induced ROS, HUVEC were transduced with a cytosolic- compared to a mitochondria-targeted catalase. Transduction with the mitochondria-targeted catalase was more effective than cytoplasmic catalase in inhibiting the ROS and 8-isoprostane (8-iso-PGF2alpha) produced after treatment with either AZT or indinavir. However, both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic catalase attenuated ROS and 8-iso-PGF2alpha production induced by the combination treatment, suggesting that in this case, the formation of cytoplasmic ROS may also occur, and thus, that the mechanism of toxicity in the combination treatment group may be different compared to treatment with AZT or indinavir alone. Finally, to determine whether ART-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS production culminate in apoptosis, we performed the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), annexin V and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, and caspase-3 activity assays. However, none of these assays showed appreciable levels of ART-induced apoptosis. Our studies thus suggest that in endothelial cells, ART induces mitochondrial dysfunction with a concomitant increase in mitochondria-derived ROS. This compromised mitochondrial function may be one important factor culminating in endothelial dysfunction, without inducing an increase in apoptosis.
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PMID:HIV antiretroviral drug combination induces endothelial mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species production, but not apoptosis. 1766 53

(1) HIV-1 and viral proteins-evoked chronic brain inflammation, which is characterized by microglial activation, is the pivotal neuropathogenesis of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD). Platelet-activating factor (PAF), mainly released from activated microglia and acts as a high potent inflammatory mediator and a neurotoxin, is indicated to be a principle initiator of neuroinflammation, neuronal dysfunction, and apoptosis related to HAD. Thus, bis-interacting ligands of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and PAF receptor antagonism would be of great interest in the therapeutic potential of HAD not only for improvement of cognitive performance, but also for disease-modifying. (2). We have previously reported that a novel tetrahydrofuran-derived bis-interacting ligand PMS777 had satisfying potencies for PAF receptor blockade and AChE inhibition, and markedly improved cholinergic dysfunction-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Continuing with our research, we further investigated the neuroprotective activities of PMS777 on PAF-triggered neuronal injury in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. (3) The bis-interacting ligand PMS777 (10 muM) obviously alleviated PAF-induced cell apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. Pretreatment with PMS777 also markedly inhibited intracellular Ca(2+) overload, down-regulation of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 mRNA, stimulation of pro-apoptotic bax mRNA expression and activation of caspase-3 pathway. Also, PMS777 could fine-tune pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) mRNA expression in PAF-treated cells. (4) These results suggest that PMS777 possesses a neuroprotective profile via anti-apoptotic/inflammatory signaling and warrant further investigations in connection with the potential value of this compound in HAD treatment.
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PMID:PMS777, a bis-interacting ligand for PAF receptor antagonism and AChE inhibition, attenuates PAF-induced neurocytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. 1771 22

Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is an intracellular stress protein with the cytoprotective effect for a variety of noxious stresses. In this study, using a protein delivery system, we demonstrated the potential cytoprotective effect of HSP27 as a therapeutic protein in cardiac cells and ischemia/reperfusion animal model. We constructed a recombinant HSP27 fused to the protein transduction domain (PTD) derived from HIV-1 TAT protein. Purified recombinant TAT-HSP27 protein was efficiently delivered to H9c2 cells, and its transduction showed cytoprotective effect against the hypoxic stress. Moreover, transduction of TAT-HSP27 also attenuated hypoxia-induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by reduced caspase-3 activity. In addition, intraperitoneal injection of TAT-HSP27 into rat resulted in efficient protein transduction in heart tissues, decreased infarcted myocardium (control vs TAT-HSP27, 39.1% vs 29.5%, P<0.05) and preserved heart function (fractional shortening, 15.6% vs 33.4%, P<0.05), as determined at 7 d after I/R. These results suggest that the PTD-mediated delivery of HSP27 protein may represent a potential therapeutic strategy as protein drug for ischemic heart diseases.
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PMID:Protective effect of heat shock protein 27 using protein transduction domain-mediated delivery on ischemia/reperfusion heart injury. 1786 18


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