HIV type 1 protease activation of NF-kappa B within T lymphoid cells.
NF-kappa B is a nuclear protein of the rel oncogene family capable of enhancing transcription of several cellular genes, including IL-2 and the IL-2 receptor, and viral genes transcribed from the HIV-1 LTR. It has been reported that HIV-1 protease may cleave the NF-kappa B precursor to its active form in vitro. In this study the effects of HIV protease on NF-kappa B precursor activation were examined in Jurkat T cells by introducing a protease expression vector into the cells. Increased NF-kappa B activity was observed and this increased activity was blocked by a specific inhibitor of the viral protease. Viral transcription, as measured using LTR-CAT assays, was only slightly enhanced in the HIV-protease expressing cells, while secretion of IL-2 and expression of the IL-2 receptor were not affected. The limited activation of NF-kappa B by HIV protease appears unlikely to have a significant effect on virus expression or T cell function.
Zhang
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Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Zhang
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N
Wick
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MM
Byrn
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RA
D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015342:DNA Probes; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat; D016333:HIV Protease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D015342:DNA Probes; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016328:NF-kappa B; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016333:HIV Protease