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)

There is a consensus of opinion that central nervous system (CNS) involvement takes place in a large proportion of patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, uncertainty still remains about how often and how early the CNS is infected during the early asymptomatic stage as some researchers still believe that low copy of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) identified in the brains using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) represents HIV harboured in the infected cells trapped in cerebral blood vessels. In this review, the neurological abnormalities in HIV-1 positive pre-AIDS individuals are discussed from three points of view: neuropsychiatric and neurophysiological, involvement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain pathology. In particular, our investigations of the brains of asymptomatic individuals have demonstrated that HIV-1 DNA was present in about half (17/36) of brains studied (copy numbers of HIV-1 DNA were detected and the possibility of contamination from the blood was calculated and excluded). Astro- (34/36) and micro- (31/36) gliosis and meningitis (11/36) were found. Immune activation, revealed by elevated expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens, was previously demonstrated in the brains of patients with AIDS and was also present before the development of AIDS. Furthermore, demonstration of highly expressed cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1, 4, 6) possibly explains the neuropathological changes and neuronal damage (confirmed by the demonstration of apoptotic neurons by in situ end labelling) seen in these brains. We conclude that HIV-1 is present in the brains of HIV-1 infected individuals at early stages of the infection and that HIV-1 induces brain damage in a direct as well as indirect way. This is a worrying conclusion which makes it mandatory to reconsider the time at which treatment must be applied in HIV-1 infection.
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PMID:Early HIV-1 infection of the central nervous system. 938 15

The HIV Tat protein, primarily characterized as a transcriptional activator of the viral long terminal repeat (LTR), is also a potent repressor of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I transcription. In the present study, we demonstrate that these two functional activities are distinct and mediated by discrete, but overlapping, structural domains of Tat. Tat repressor activity depends on C-terminal sequences, whereas transactivation depends on N-terminal sequences; both functions require core sequences. The repressor activity requires a domain encompassing the region encoded by the second exon of the Tat gene, beginning at amino acid 73, with a C-terminal limit between amino acids 80 and 83. Tat repressor function also depends on the presence of a lysine at position 41, located within the core of the protein. Tat repressor activity is independent of two N-terminal domains essential for transactivation: the acidic segment and the cysteine-rich region. Conversely, Tat transactivation is independent of the second exon-encoded region of Tat. As further support for this novel model of separable Tat functions, we show that in murine fibroblasts, Tat represses class I promoter activity, but does not transactivate the HIV LTR. We propose that distinct structural domains mediate the two functionally distinct activities associated with the Tat protein.
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PMID:HIV Tat protein requirements for transactivation and repression of transcription are separable. 943 53

To evaluate an antigen delivery system in which exogenous antigen can target the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I pathway, a single human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E7 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope and a single HIV gp160 CTL epitope were separately fused to the C-terminus of bovine papillomavirus 1 (BPV1) L1 sequence to form hybrid BPV1L1 VLPs. Mice immunized with these hybrid VLPs mounted strong CTL responses against the relevant target cells in the absence of any adjuvants. In addition, the CTL responses induced by immunization with BPV1L1/HPV16E7CTL VLPs protected mice against challenge with E7-transformed tumor cells. Furthermore, a high titer-specific antibody response against BPV1L1 VLPs was also induced, and this antiserum could inhibit papillomavirus-induced agglutination of mouse erythrocytes, suggesting that the antibody may recognize conformational determinates relevant to virus neutralization. These data demonstrate that hybrid BPV1L1 VLPs can be used as carriers to target antigenic epitopes to both the MHC class I and class II pathways, providing a promising strategy for the design of vaccines to prevent virus infection, with the potential to elicit therapeutic virus-specific CTL responses.
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PMID:Papillomavirus virus-like particles can deliver defined CTL epitopes to the MHC class I pathway. 944 99

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) lyse virally infected cells that display viral peptide epitopes in association with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on the cell surface. However, despite a strong CTL response directed against viral epitopes, untreated people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) develop AIDS. To resolve this enigma, we have examined the ability of CTLs to recognize and kill infected primary T lymphocytes. We found that CTLs inefficiently lysed primary cells infected with HIV-1 if the viral nef gene product was expressed. Resistance of infected cells to CTL killing correlated with nef-mediated downregulation of MHC class I and could be overcome by adding an excess of the relevant HIV-1 epitope as soluble peptide. Thus, Nef protected infected cells by reducing the epitope density on their surface. This effect of nef may allow evasion of CTL lysis by HIV-1-infected cells.
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PMID:HIV-1 Nef protein protects infected primary cells against killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. 945 Jul 57

Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice inoculated intracerebrally (i.c.) with HIV-infected human monocytes develop brain pathology similar to that in humans with HIV encephalitis. This includes HIV-positive macrophages and multinucleated giant cells, astrogliosis, microglial nodules, and neuronal dropout. These xenografts survive about 1 month. To develop a model of chronic HIV encephalitis and to assay the resulting behavioral abnormalities, we reinoculated SCID mice i.c. every 4 weeks for 3 months with either HIV-infected human monocytes (n = 5) or uninfected human macrophages (n = 4) or administered no inoculation (n = 6); these three groups were monitored for behavioral abnormalities. Tests of cognitive function in a Morris water maze 3.5 months after the first inoculation suggested that HIV-infected mice performed poorly compared with controls. Following testing in the water maze on days 4 and 5 of acquisition, motor activity of infected mice was reduced in comparison with that of controls. Retention of goal location when tested 1 week later was impaired in HIV-infected mice compared with controls. Histopathologic analysis of brains revealed significant astrogliosis and strongly suggested higher numbers of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-positive multinucleated macrophages in HIV-infected compared with control mice. Thus, our preliminary studies indicate that SCID mice with HIV encephalitis develop behavioral abnormalities reminiscent of human disease. These behavioral abnormalities are associated with significantly increased astrogliosis, the presence of HIV, and probably multinucleated giant cells. These studies further support the use of this SCID animal model system for studies of the pathogenesis of HIV encephalitis and for drug interventions.
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PMID:SCID mice with HIV encephalitis develop behavioral abnormalities. 959 53

Twin and adoptee studies have indicated that host genetic factors are major determinants of susceptibility to infectious disease in humans. Twin studies have also found high heritabilities for many humoral and cellular immune responses to pathogen antigens, with most of the genetic component mapping outside of the major histocompatibility complex. Candidate gene studies have implicated several immunogenetic polymorphisms in human infectious diseases. HLA variation has been associated with susceptibility or resistance to malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, AIDS, and hepatitis virus persistence. Variation in the tumor necrosis factor gene promoter has also been associated with several infectious diseases. Chemokine receptor polymorphism affects both susceptibility ot HIV-1 infection and the rate of progression to AIDS. Inactivating mutations of the gamma-interferon receptor lead to increased susceptibility to typical mycobacteria and disseminated BCG infection in homozygous children. The active form of vitamin D has immunomodulatory effects, and allelic variants of the vitamin D receptor appear to be associated with differential susceptibility to several infectious diseases. NRAMP1, a macrophage gene identified by positional cloning of its murine homologue, has been implicated in susceptibility to tuberculosis in Africans. Whole genome linkage analysis of multi-case families is now being used to map and identify new loci affecting susceptibility to infectious diseases. It is likely that susceptibility to most microorganisms is determined by a large number of polymorphic genes, and identification of these should provide insights into protective and pathogenic mechanisms in infectious diseases.
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PMID:The immunogenetics of human infectious diseases. 959 43

The role of host genes in the course of HIV-1 infection has been examined in different populations and among all major risk groups. Two extended human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes, HLA A1-Cw7-B8-DR3-DQ2 and HLA A11-Cw4-B35-DR1-DQ1, are found to be associated with a faster progression to AIDS. The complement C4 factor and tumor necrosis factor genes of the major histocompatibility complex, as well as the mannose binding protein gene, have also been suggested to influence the outcome of AIDS. The recent discovery that chemokine receptors could serve as cofactors for HIV-1 cell entry has prompted a search for polymorphisms in chemokine receptor genes. A 32 base pair inactivating deletion in the CCR5 gene and a point mutation within the CCR2b gene resulting in a conservative amino acid substitution have been examined and shown to be independently associated with delayed disease progression. Together, these observations strongly support a genetic component in AIDS pathogenesis. This article synthesizes the current state of knowledge about the influence of host genes on HIV-1 disease progression. It provides a summary of all significant association studies reported so far. The role of the allelic polymorphism in these genes is discussed with regard to the immunopathogenesis of AIDS.
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PMID:Influence of host genes on HIV-1 disease progression. 961 42

Characterization of immune responses induced by live attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strains may yield clues to the nature of protective immunity induced by this vaccine approach. We investigated the ability of CD8(+) T lymphocytes from rhesus macaques immunized with the live, attenuated SIV strain SIVmac239Deltanef or SIVmac239Delta3 to inhibit SIV replication. CD8(+) T lymphocytes from immunized animals were able to potently suppress SIV replication in autologous SIV-infected CD4(+) T cells. Suppression of SIV replication by unstimulated CD8(+) T cells required direct contact and was major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restricted. However, CD3-stimulated CD8(+) T cells produced soluble factors that inhibited SIV replication in an MHC-unrestricted fashion as much as 30-fold. Supernatants from stimulated CD8(+) T cells were also able to inhibit replication of both CCR5- and CXCR4-dependent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains. Stimulation of CD8(+) cells with cognate cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes also induced secretion of soluble factors able to inhibit SIV replication. Production of RANTES, macrophage inhibitory protein 1alpha (MIP-1alpha), or MIP-1beta from stimulated CD8(+) T cells of vaccinated animals was almost 10-fold higher than that from stimulated CD8(+) T cells of control animals. However, addition of antibodies that neutralize these beta-chemokines, either alone or in combination, only partly blocked inhibition of SIV and HIV replication by soluble factors produced by stimulated CD8(+) T cells. Our results indicate that inhibition of SIV replication by CD8(+) T cells from animals immunized with live attenuated SIV strains involves both MHC-restricted and -unrestricted mechanisms and that MHC-unrestricted inhibition of SIV replication is due principally to soluble factors other than RANTES, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-1beta.
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PMID:Inhibition of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication by CD8(+) T lymphocytes from macaques immunized with live attenuated SIV. 965 70

Acute HIV infection is associated with a vigorous immune response characterized by the proliferation of selected T cell receptor V beta (BV)-expressing CD8(+) T cells. These 'expansions', which are commonly detected in the peripheral blood, can persist during chronic HIV infection and may result in the dominance of particular clones. Such clonal populations are most consistent with antigen-driven expansions of CD8(+) T cells. However, due to the difficulties in studying antigen-specific T cells in vivo, it has been hard to prove that oligoclonal BV expansions are actually HIV specific. The use of tetrameric major histocompatibility complex-peptide complexes has recently enabled direct visualization of antigen-specific T cells ex vivo but has not provided information on their clonal composition. We have now made use of these tetrameric complexes in conjunction with anti-BV chain-specific monoclonal antibodies and analysis of cytotoxic T lymphocyte lines/clones to show that chronically clonally expanded CD8(+) T cells are HIV specific in vivo.
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PMID:Oligoclonal expansions of CD8(+) T cells in chronic HIV infection are antigen specific. 970 61

Whole inactivated viral particles have been successfully used as vaccines for some viruses, but procedures historically used for inactivation can denature virion proteins. Results have been inconsistent, with enhancement of disease rather than protection seen in some notable instances following vaccination. We used the compound 2,2'-dithiodipyridine (aldrithiol-2; AT-2) to covalently modify the essential zinc fingers in the nucleocapsid (NC) protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) virions, thereby inactivating infectivity. The inactivated virus was not detectably infectious in vitro (up to 5 log units of inactivation). However, in contrast to virions inactivated by conventional methods such as heat or formalin treatment, viral and host cell-derived proteins on virion surfaces retained conformational and functional integrity. Thus, immunoprecipitation of AT-2-treated virions was comparable to precipitation of matched untreated virus, even when using antibodies to conformational determinants on gp120. AT-2 inactivated virions bound to CD4(+) target cells and mediated virus-induced, CD4-dependent "fusion from without" comparably to native virions. However, viral entry assays demonstrated that the viral life cycle of AT-2-treated virions was arrested before initiation of reverse transcription. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules on the surface of AT-2-treated virions produced from MHC class II-expressing cells retained the ability to support class II-dependent, superantigen-triggered proliferative responses by resting T lymphocytes. These findings indicate that inactivation via this method results in elimination of infectivity with preservation of conformational and functional integrity of virion surface proteins, including both virally encoded determinants and proteins derived from the host cells in which the virus was produced. Such inactivated virions should provide a promising candidate vaccine antigen and a useful reagent for experimentally probing the postulated involvement of virion surface proteins in indirect mechanisms of HIV-1 pathogenesis.
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PMID:Inactivation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infectivity with preservation of conformational and functional integrity of virion surface proteins. 973 38


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