Mycoplasmas regulate HIV-LTR-dependent gene expression.
Mycoplasmas have been incriminated in setting the stage for HIV infection and full-blown AIDS. We tested the possible involvement of mycoplasmas in activation of HIV. Two cell lines, 293 fibroblasts and Jurkat CD4+ T-cells, transfected with plasmids harboring a transcription fusion construct between HIV-long terminal repeat (HIV-LTR) and either luc or cat genes, were infected with several mycoplasmas (M. fermentans; M. penetrans, M. pirum and Ureaplasma urealyticum) and the reporter gene expression was monitored. The data presented here suggest that mycoplasmas, and specifically their membranes, play a role in the activation of HIV-LTR mediated transcription.
Nir-Paz
R
R
Department of Membrane, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Israel
S
S
Honigman
A
A
Kahane
I
I
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology