AZT blocks down-regulation of IL-2 and IFN-gamma gene expression in HIV acutely infected cells.
HIV infection causes dysregulation of cytokine gene expression in CD4+ T cells of the infected host. Azidothymidine (AZT) inhibits HIV replication by blocking reverse transcription. Using a one-stop cell-to-cell HIV infection model, we have investigated the expression of several key cytokines in HIV infected T cells in the absence or presence of AZT treatment. Acute HIV infection of T cells resulted in dramatic down regulation of the expression of IL-2 and INF-gamma mRNA. While beta-actin mRNA levels remained constant in both AZT-free and AZT treated cultures after HIV infection, it was found that AZT blocked the down regulation of IL-2 mRNA and INF-gamma mRNA in CD4+ T cells acutely infected with HIV.
Fan
J
J
National Centre for HIV Virology Research, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, Australia.
Li
P
P
Kok
T W
TW
Burrell
C J
CJ
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015215:Zidovudine; D007371:Interferon-gamma