title: The Ras-Raf pathway is activated in human immunodeficiency virus-infected monocytes and particpates in the activation of NF-kappa B.
abstract: Persistent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of human monocytes and macrophages increases I kappa B alpha degradation, resulting in the activation of NF-kappa B, a key transcription factor in the regulation of the HIV long terminal repeat. The signal transduction pathways leading to NF-kappa B activation in cells of the monocytic lineage, especially those regulated by HIV infection, and their relevance in regulating viral persistence remain unknown. Both p21ras and its downstream Raf-1 kinase participate in the transduction of signals initiated from a variety of cell surface receptors and in the regulation of transcription factors. We have studied whether the Ras-Raf pathway is functional and participates in HIV-mediated NF-kappa B activation in monocytic cells. Constitutively active p21ras (v-H-Ras) activated NF- kappa B-dependent transcription and induces the nuclear translocation of a bona fide p65/p50 heterodimer by targeting I kappa B alpha. In addition, the constitutively active form of Raf (RafBXB) also increases the NF-kappa B-dependent transcriptional activity. Because of the similarity between HIV and Ras-Raf-induced NF-kappa B activation in monocytic cells, we next tested whether HIV-induced NF-kappa B activation was mediated by the Ras-Raf signal transduction pathway. Negative dominant forms of both Ras (Ras N17) and Raf (Raf 301) decreased the HIV- but not lipopolysaccharide-dependent NF-kappa B activation in U937 cells. Moreover, Raf-1 kinase activity was greater in HIV-infected than uninfected monocytic cells in in vitro kinase assays. Altogether, these results indicate that the Ras-Raf pathway is unregulated in HIV monocytic cells and participates in the virus-induced activation of NF-kappa B.
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Folgueira
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Algeciras
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: MacMorran
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Bren
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Paya
mesh_terms: D033965:Adaptor Protein Complex alpha Subunits; D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000821:virology*; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000378:metabolism*; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA
chemical_list: D033965:Adaptor Protein Complex alpha Subunits; D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; C501009:HRAS protein, human; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)