title: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulates both apical and basal production of HIV in polarized human intestinal HT29 cells.
abstract: The human colon epithelial cell line HT29 can be infected by selected strains of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [9]. In the present study, it is shown that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a potent stimulator of HIV replication in chronically infected differentiated HT29 cells, but not in undifferentiated cells. The polarity of HIV production upon TNF-alpha stimulation has been studied in polarized monolayers of differentiated HT29 cells grown on porous-bottomed dishes. It is shown that the cytokine induced a dramatic increase of HIV production through the two opposite sides of the monolayer, i.e. the apical and basolateral plasma membrane domains. The effect of TNF-alpha was mainly localized at the level of viral mRNA synthesis as demonstrated by in situ hybridization. These data support the concept that cytokines released as a result of intestinal inflammatory responses could promote HIV replication and contribute to the gastrointestinal disease in HIV-infected patients.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase