HIV-1 infection induces a selective reduction in STAT5 protein expression.
HIV-1 infection is accompanied by qualitative and quantitative defects in CD4+ T lymphocytes. Loss of immune function in HIV patients is usually associated with a profound dysregulation of cytokine production. To investigate whether cytokine signaling defects occur during HIV infection, PHA blasts from healthy human donors were infected with two strains of HIV-1 and screened for the expression of STAT proteins used in cytokine signaling. A selective decrease in STAT5B was seen 8 days after infection with the BZ167 dual-tropic HIV isolate, but not with the Ba-L, M-tropic strain. Based on these findings, purified T cells from HIV-infected patients in different stages of disease were also tested for STAT expression; decreases in STAT5A, STAT5B, and STAT1alpha were observed in all patients. The reduction in STATs seen in vivo and in vitro after HIV infection may contribute to the loss of T cell function in HIV disease.
Pericle
F
F
Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Pinto
L A
LA
Hicks
S
S
Kirken
R A
RA
Sconocchia
G
G
Rusnak
J
J
Dolan
M J
MJ
Shearer
G M
GM
Segal
D M
DM
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008894:Milk Proteins; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008894:Milk Proteins; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; C494092:STAT5A protein, human; C494095:STAT5B protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins