title: Superantigens activate HIV-1 gene expression in monocytic cells.
abstract: Binding of superantigens to MHC class II molecules results in transduction of biochemical signals leading to cellular activation and gene expression. We demonstrate that the staphylococcal superantigens toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) and staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) activate HIV-1-LTR-driven transcription of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase in the human monocytic cell line THP-1. Induction of HIV-1-LTR-driven transcription in THP-1 cells by superantigens was associated with the induction of nuclear factor-kappa B DNA-binding activity. Superantigens also increased viral protein secretion from the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-pretreated chronically infected human monocytic cell line U1. Induction of HIV-1 gene expression in monocytic cells by superantigens occurred via tumor necrosis factor-alpha-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Our results suggest that superantigens and other MHC class II ligands may activate HIV-1 gene expression in monocytes/macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fuleihan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Trede
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chatila
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Geha
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009000:Monocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection / Q000235:genetics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016328:NF-kappa B; D018089:Superantigens; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha