Expression of MHC class II in T cells is associated with increased HIV-1 expression.
HIV-1 replicates in activated T cells at significantly higher levels than in resting cells. Thus, certain molecules up-regulated during T cell activation appear to be important for HIV-1 replication. In this study, we present evidence suggesting that expression of MHC class II (class II) molecules on CD4+ T cells facilitate HIV-1 replication. T cells that expressed class II supported greater virus replication than T cells lacking class II. The class II+ cells, when either infected with HIV-1 or transfected with an env-minus HIV-1 provirus plasmid, produced 10-20-fold greater virus expression than class II- cells. Anti-class II antibody markedly inhibited virus expression in class II+ cells (but not class II- cells) and also decreased the nuclear binding activity of AP-1, an inducible transcription factor important in T cell activation and HIV-1 expression. Most importantly, the induction of class II expression by transfection of the MHC class II transactivator (CIITA) stimulated HIV-1 replication in Jurkat T cells. Taken together, these data suggest that expression of MHC class II molecules and/or CIITA in T cells enhances HIV-1 transcription.
Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA. msaifudd@rush.edu
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Saifuddin
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Spear
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Chang
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Roebuck
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D002460:Cell Line; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014779:Virus Replication
D018925:Chemokines; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1