Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) tat-protein stimulates the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by peripheral blood monocytes.
In this study we evaluated the effect of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) recombinant tat-protein on the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by purified peripheral blood monocytes. Whereas no effects were observed on TNF-alpha and GM-CSF production, recombinant tat-protein was able to induce the production of IL-6 by peripheral blood monocytes in a dose-dependent fashion for concentrations ranging from 1 ng/ml to 1 micrograms/ml. Pre-exposure of tat-protein with a polyclonal neutralizing anti-tat antibody (dilution 1:100) completely abrogated the tat-dependent increase in IL-6 production. The ability of tat-protein to selectively stimulate the production of IL-6 by peripheral blood monocytes could help to explain the presence of elevated levels of IL-6 in the serum of HIV-1 seropositive individuals, especially in patients in advanced stages of the disease with an active viral replication.
Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Ferrara, Italy.
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Zauli
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Furlini
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Milani
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Capitani
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La Placa
D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015696:Gene Products, tat; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor