title: Recombinant Vpr (rVpr) causes augmentation of HIV-1 p24 Ag level in U1 cells through its ability to induce the secretion of TNF.
abstract: We have found that an HIV-1 accessory gene product Vpr enhanced HIV-1 reproduction in U1 cells chiefly by the induction of TNF, a proinflammatory cytokine, which was also known to be an activator of HIV-1 reproduction. We have generated the functional HIV-1 accessory gene product Vpr in bacterial cells. Vpr was generated in an Escherichia coli system (rVpr), purified with antibodies (Ab) to the 16 C-terminal amino acids of Vpr. The purified rVpr of 15 kDa was examined for its ability to upregulate HIV-1 reproduction in U1 cells, which is a reported function of the authentic Vpr. rVpr upregulated HIV-1 reproduction in U1 cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced the secretion of TNF. The upregulation of HIV-1 by rVpr was completely inhibited not only by anti-Vpr antibodies but also by anti-TNF antibody. These findings suggested that Vpr caused an HIV-1 reproduction in U1 cells through the induction of TNF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Mie University School of Medicine, 2-171 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Syuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Yoriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Atsuji
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016336:Gene Products, vpr / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014779:Virus Replication; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D016336:Gene Products, vpr; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus