title: HIV-1 Nef activates STAT1 in human monocytes/macrophages through the release of soluble factors.
abstract: Monocytes/macrophages play a predominant role in the immunologic network by secreting and reacting to a wide range of soluble factors. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection leads to deep immunologic dysfunctions, also as a consequence of alterations in the pattern of cytokine release. Recent studies on in vivo models demonstrated that the expression of HIV Nef alone mimics many pathogenetic effects of HIV infection. In particular, Nef expression in monocytes/macrophages has been correlated with remarkable modifications in the pattern of secreted soluble factors, suggesting that the interaction of Nef with monocytes/macrophages plays a role in the pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This study sought to define possible alterations in intracellular signaling induced by Nef in monocytes/macrophages. Results demonstrate that HIV-1 Nef specifically activates both alpha and beta isoforms of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1). This was observed both by infecting human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) with HIV-1 deletion mutants, and by exploiting the ability of MDMs to internalize soluble, recombinant Nef protein (rNef). STAT1-alpha activation occurs on phosphorylation of both C-terminal Tyr701 and Ser727 and leads to a strong binding activity. Nef-dependent STAT1 activation is followed by increased expression of both STAT1 and interferon regulatory factor-1, a transcription factor transcriptionally regulated by STAT1 activation. It was also established that Nef-induced STAT1- alpha/beta activation occurs through the secretion of soluble factors. Taken together, the results indicate that HIV-1 Nef could interfere with STAT1-governed intracellular signaling in human monocytes/macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. federico@iss.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Percario
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olivetta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiorucci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muratori
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micheli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Affabris
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015693:Gene Products, nef; C494257:IRF1 protein, human; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus