title: The thalidomide analogue CC-3052 inhibits HIV-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression in acutely and chronically infected cells in vitro.
abstract: We investigated the in vitro effect of the water-soluble, highly stable thalidomide analogue CC-3052 on HIV-1 expression and TNF-alpha production in latently infected promonocytic U1 cells, acutely infected T cells and monocyte-derived human macrophages (MDM), and in mitogen-stimulated ex vivo cultures from patients with primary acute HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 expression was assessed by Northern blot analysis of RNAs, and ELISA for p24 antigen release and reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. TNF-alpha expression was evaluated by RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ELISA for mRNA and ELISA for protein secretion. We demonstrated that CC-3052 is able to inhibit HIV-1 expression, as evaluated by mRNA, p24 release and RT activity, in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)- and cytokine-stimulated U1 cells. Furthermore, CC-3052 inhibited HIV-1 expression, as evaluated by p24 and RT activity, in acutely infected MDM and T cells. As far as TNF-alpha is concerned, CC-3052 significantly reduced TNF-alpha mRNA and protein secretion in PMA-stimulated U937 and U1 cells, and in PMA-stimulated uninfected and acutely infected MDM. Consistently, the addition of CC-3052 reduced TNF-alpha production in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated whole blood cultures from patients during the primary acute phase of HIV-1 infection. Since TNF-alpha is among the most potent enhancers of HIV-1 expression, the effect of CC-3052 on TNF-alpha may account for its inhibitory activity on HIV-1 expression. Given the well documented immunopathological role of TNF-alpha and its correlation with viral load, advanced disease and poor prognosis, CC-3052 could be an interesting drug for the design of therapeutic strategies in association with anti-retroviral agents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Maestra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaninoni
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Marriott
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazzarin
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Dalgleish
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barcellini
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; C115112:CC 3052; D017931:DNA Primers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate