Nerve growth factor is an autocrine factor essential for the survival of macrophages infected with HIV.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophin with the ability to exert specific effects on cells of the immune system. Human monocytes/macrophages (M/M) infected in vitro with HIV type 1 (HIV-1) are able to produce substantial levels of NGF that are associated with enhanced expression of the high-affinity NGF receptor (p140 trkA) on the M/M surface. Treatment of HIV-infected human M/M with anti-NGF Ab blocking the biological activity of NGF leads to a marked decrease of the expression of p140 trkA high-affinity receptor, a concomitant increased expression of p75(NTR) low-affinity receptor for NGF, and the occurrence of apoptotic death of M/M. Taken together, these findings suggest a role for NGF as an autocrine survival factor that rescues human M/M from the cytopathic effect caused by HIV infection.
Garaci
E
E
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Caroleo
M C
MC
Aloe
L
L
Aquaro
S
S
Piacentini
M
M
Costa
N
N
Amendola
A
A
Micera
A
A
Caliò
R
R
Perno
C F
CF
Levi-Montalcini
R
R
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000096:biosynthesis
D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA