Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Many retroviruses either encode dUTP pyrophosphatase (dUTPase) or package host-derived uracil DNA glycosylase as a means to limit the accumulation of uracil in DNA strands, suggesting that uracil is detrimental to one or more steps in the viral life cycle. In the present study, the effects of DNA uracilation on (-) strand DNA synthesis, RNase H activity, and (+) strand DNA synthesis were investigated in a cell-free system. This system uses the activities of purified human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase to convert single-stranded RNA to double-stranded DNA in a single reaction mixture. Substitution of dUTP for dTTP had no effect on (-) strand synthesis but significantly decreased yields of (+) strand DNA. Mapping of nascent (+) strand 5' ends revealed that this was due to decreased initiation from polypurine tracts with a concomitant increase in initiation at non-polypurine tract sites. Aberrant initiation correlated with a change in RNase H cleavage specificity when assayed on preformed RNA-DNA duplexes containing uracilated DNA, suggesting that appropriate "selection" of the (+) strand primer is affected. Collectively, these data suggest that accumulation of uracil in retroviral DNA may disrupt the viral life cycle by altering the specificity of (+) strand DNA synthesis initiation during reverse transcription.
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PMID:Incorporation of uracil into minus strand DNA affects the specificity of plus strand synthesis initiation during lentiviral reverse transcription. 1245 16

In situ hybridization is one of the most important techniques to visualize gene expression at the cellular level in various tissues. The in situ hybridization-AT tailing (ISH-AT) method uses a specially designed and synthesized oligonucleotide probe that has (AT)10 on the 3' side. This (AT)10 of the probe is elongated by DeltaTth DNA polymerase in the presence of dATP, dTTP, and labeled dUTP in the tissue after hybridization. Through this process the target is labeled with many hapten molecules. In this study, we detected human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues obtained from autopsied patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome by combining ISH-AT with the catalyzed signal amplification (CSA) system (ISH-AT-CSA), although we failed to detect signals from the same samples by conventional in situ hybridization using RNA probes (RISH) with CSA (RISH-CSA). We demonstrated that the ISH-AT-CSA method was superior to RISH-CSA in terms of both sensitivity and specificity, and that it was applicable to fluorescence in situ hybridization and double staining with immunohistochemistry for the characterization of cell phenotypes.
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PMID:In situ hybridization AT-tailing with catalyzed signal amplification for sensitive and specific in situ detection of human immunodeficiency virus-1 mRNA in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues. 1254 97

Neuronal loss is, frequently found in brains of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-encephalopathy. Extensive apoptosis of neurons is probably involved in the development of HIV-encephalopathy. The present study was designed to investigate the mechanism of neuronal apoptosis. For this purpose, we examined autopsy brains of two patients with HIV-encephalopathy. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells and active forms of caspase-3- and -8-positive cells, including neurons, were found in the perivascular regions of the brains. In these regions, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)+ macrophages were also observed. We also examined brains of HIV-1-infected mouse model inoculated with human cells. In these brains, TUNEL+ neurons were also found in the perivascular region, the site where infiltrated HIV-1-infected and TRAIL-expressing macrophages were observed. Using an in vitro-culture system, we also demonstrated that the HIV-1-infected monocyte-derived macrophages preferentially expressed TRAIL and that the addition of HIV-1-infected macrophages or human TRAIL-overexpressing mouse cells to cultured mouse primary neurons/glia resulted in neuronal apoptosis. Our results suggest the involvement of TRAIL expressed on HIV-1-infected macrophages in the induction of neuronal apoptosis in infected brain.
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PMID:TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces neuronal apoptosis in HIV-encephalopathy. 1271 15

For the simultaneously visual detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), a qualitative DNA chip method, combining multiplex and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with arrayed anchored primer PCR and a biotin-avidin alkaline phosphatase (Av-AP) indicator system, was developed. After pretreatment of infected blood samples and reverse transcription of the RNA virus genome, PCR was performed in a single tube by using the outer primer pairs. Second round nested multiplex PCR was performed on the DNA chip, on which the primers array had already been prepared. During the arrayed anchored multiplex PCR, 5[N-(N-biotinylaminocaproyl)-epsilon-3-aminoallyl]-2-deoxy-uridine-5-triphosphate (biotin-11-dUTP) was incorporated into the extended DNA chains in order to bind avidin alkaline phosphatase via avidin and biotin. To produce purple precipitates on the chips, the enzyme substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate (BCIP) was used in conjunction with the enhancer, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT). Blood samples containing the three viruses were tested using this DNA chip and about 1 pg of specific viral DNA fragments were detected on the chip wells after nested PCR.
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PMID:A visual DNA chip for simultaneous detection of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus type-1. 1470 86

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of the central nervous system (CNS) results in neuronal damage and apoptosis, and both in vitro models and pathological studies suggest that a variety of neurotoxins released by HIV-infected and -activated macrophages/microglia selectively damage susceptible subsets of neurons. Confirmation of in vitro findings of mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuronal cell dysfunction in vivo has been approached through detailed pathological analysis of regional structural damage, immunohistochemical detection of selected antigens in damaged cells, and, more recently, analysis of gene expression in whole tissue blocks or pooled populations (hundreds/thousands) of microdissected cells. Recently developed techniques of gene expression analysis through antisense mRNA amplification (aRNA) at the single-cell level may offer the potential to study pathways of neuronal cell death and to determine patterns of coordinated gene expression that may more specifically identify susceptible neuronal subclasses in vivo. Utilizing this unique technique, the authors have demonstrated, for the first time, RNA amplification and gene expression profiling in individual deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-reactive neurons microdissected from fixed, archival human brain tissue. RNA amplification was successful in >80% of TUNEL-positive neurons, and quantitative aRNA/cDNA hybridization slot-blot analysis demonstrated similar levels of actin RNA but significant differences in caspase-2 RNA expression between TUNEL-reactive and -nonreactive neurons. Reliable quantitative comparisons were achieved with modest numbers of sampled neurons (approximately 10). These studies suggest that analysis of coordinated gene expression in individual damaged neurons in vivo can be reliably used to identify neuronal subclasses that express certain susceptibility- or survival-promoting genes that may be targeted for more specific neuroprotective strategies against HIV.
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PMID:Gene expression in TUNEL-positive neurons in human immunodeficiency virus-infected brain. 1498 47

The effects of soluble Nef protein on CD4(+) T cells were examined. CD4(+)-T-cell cultures exposed to soluble Nef were analyzed for apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling and hallmarks of apoptosis including cytoplasmic shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, DNA laddering, and caspase activation. We observed dose- and time-dependent inductions of apoptosis. DNA laddering and activated caspase 3 were also evident. Cells treated with Nef/protein kinase inhibitor complexes were protected from Nef-induced apoptosis, suggesting possible roles for protein kinases in the apoptosis pathway. Similarly, cells treated with Nef/anti-Nef antibody complexes were protected from Nef-induced apoptosis. The cellular receptor responsible for Nef-induced apoptosis was identified through antibody- and ligand-blocking experiments as a receptor commonly involved in viral entry. CXCR4 antibodies, as well as the endogenous ligand SDF-1alpha, were effective in blocking Nef-induced apoptosis, while CCR5 and CD4 antibodies were ineffective. Moreover, a CXCR4-deficient cell line, MDA-MB-468, which was resistant to Nef-induced apoptosis, became sensitive upon transfection with a CXCR4-expressing vector. This study suggests that extracellular Nef protein could contribute to the decline of CD4 counts prior to and during the onset of AIDS in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infections.
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PMID:Extracellular Nef protein targets CD4+ T cells for apoptosis by interacting with CXCR4 surface receptors. 1499 Jul 29

The bioassay-directed isolation of a marine brown alga, Ecklonia cava, afforded four phlorotannin derivatives, eckol (1), 8,8'-bieckol (2), 8,4"'-dieckol (3), and phlorofucofuroeckol A (4). Among these compounds, 2 and 3 exhibited an inhibitory effect on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease. Specifically, they inhibited the RT more potently than the protease. The inhibitory activity of compound 2 (IC(50), 0.51 microM) against HIV-1 RT was comparable to that of nevirapine (IC(50), 0.28 microM), a reference compound. An enzyme kinetic assay showed that this compound inhibited the RNA-dependent DNA synthesis activity of HIV-1 RT noncompetitively against dUTP/dTTP with a K(i) value of 0.78 microM. With respect to the homopolymeric template/primer, (rA)n(dT)15, 8,8'-bieckol (2) displayed an uncompetitive type of inhibition (K(i), 0.23 microM).
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PMID:Inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and protease by phlorotannins from the brown alga Ecklonia cava. 1505 63

A dried blood spot (DBS) is a well-accepted means for the collection, transport, and storage of blood samples for various epidemiologic, serologic, and molecular assays for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) studies. It is particularly important for mother-to-infant-transmission studies of affected individuals living in remote areas. We have developed a real-time PCR method to detect HIV type 1 (HIV-1) DNA in dried blood spots. A cellular gene, RNase P, was coamplified with the HIV-1 DNA in the same tube to monitor the DNA extraction efficiency and the overall assay performance. Our assay is a one-tube, single-step closed-system assay and uses a dUTP/uracil DNA glycosidase anti-PCR contamination control. The HIV-1 primers and probe were derived from a conserved region of the long terminal repeat. The detection of RNase P is attenuated by lowering the forward and reverse primer concentrations so that its amplification will not overwhelm the HIV-1 amplification and yet will provide a semiquantitative measurement of the quality of the isolated DBS DNA. We examined 103 HIV-1-seropositive and 56 seronegative U.S. adults and found that our assay has a sensitivity of 98.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95.5% to 100%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI, 99% to 100%). The positive and negative predictive values are 100% and 96.6%, respectively. This duplex PCR assay may be useful in identifying HIV-1-infected persons, particularly infants born to seropositive mothers in remote areas of the world.
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PMID:Detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA in dried blood spots by a duplex real-time PCR assay. 1581 8

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated dementia is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by cognitive decline, personality change, and motor deficits. HIV-associated encephalitis (HAE), the neuropathology responsible for HIV-associated dementia, involves the formation of multinucleated giant cells or syncytia. In this article we describe the apoptotic pathways activated in the brains of HAE-affected patients. Approximately 50% of multinuclear giant cells exhibited apoptotic DNA fragmentation as detected by the terminal dUTP nick-end labeling technique. In addition, the presence of syncytia in the frontal cortex of approximately 35% of HAE patients correlated with the number of cells expressing the HIV-1 protein p24. Histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that HAE-associated syncytia underwent apoptosis through a mitochondrial pathway previously delineated for HIV-1 envelope-elicited syncytia in vitro. We observed over-expression of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a kinase that mediates activation of the pro-apoptotic transcription factor p53, and p53-dependent up-regulation of two effectors of mitochondrial apoptosis, namely the BH3-only proteins Puma and transglutaminase type 2 (TG2). Interestingly, although mTOR activation and Puma induction were observed in dying syncytia and neurons, IkB phosphorylation and TG2 up-regulation were only found in syncytia. These findings provide substantial new information on the cell death mechanisms that regulate HAE, suggesting an important pathogenetic role of syncytia in the disease.
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PMID:Characterization of cell death pathways in human immunodeficiency virus-associated encephalitis. 1612 50

Glycoprotein 120 (gp120) from the T-tropic strain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 has been shown to cause neuronal apoptosis through activation of the chemokine receptor CXCR4. Therefore, reducing CXCR4 expression may prevent gp120-mediated apoptosis. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to reduce both gp120 neurotoxicity and CXCR4 expression in vitro. The scope of this work is to establish whether BDNF is neuroprotective against gp120 in vivo and, if so, whether this effect correlates with its ability to down-regulate CXCR4. Serotype 2 adeno-associated viral vector encoding for BDNF (rAAV-BDNF) or control vector was microinjected into the striata of adult rats. Two weeks later gp120 was injected into the same striatum, and apoptosis determined. Pretreatment with rAAV-BDNF prior to gp120 microinjection prevented caspase-3 activation as well as in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labelling in the striatum and substantia nigra. In addition, rAAV-BDNF reversed the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity induced by gp120 in both areas. CXCR4 expression was then determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, and found to be decreased in striata of rAAV-BDNF-treated rats. Conversely, BDNF heterozygous mice exhibited an increase in CXCR4 mRNA levels compared to wild-type littermates. Our data suggest that down-regulation of CXCR4 expression may contribute to the neuroprotective activity of BDNF against gp120 toxicity in the basal ganglia.
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PMID:Brain-derived neurotrophic factor prevents the nigrostriatal degeneration induced by human immunodeficiency virus-1 glycoprotein 120 in vivo. 1744 26


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