title: Transcription factor FOXO3a mediates apoptosis in HIV-1-infected macrophages.
abstract: Macrophages serve as a major reservoir for HIV-1 because a large number of macrophages in the brain and lung are infected with HIV-1 during late stage disease. Recent evidence suggests that those HIV-1-infected macrophages play a key role in contributing to tissue damage in AIDS pathogenesis. Macrophages undergo apoptosis upon HIV-1 infection; however, the mechanisms of this process are not well-defined. Previously, we demonstrated that HIV-1 infection inhibits Akt-1, a critical protein for cell survival of macrophages. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of transcription factor FOXO3a in the regulation of HIV-1-mediated apoptosis in macrophages. HIV-1 infection significantly decreased phosphorylation of FOXO3a and promoted FOXO3a translocation to the nucleus in human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). Overexpression of a constitutively active FOXO3a increased DNA fragmentation with decreased cell viability in MDM, whereas a dominant-negative mutant of FOXO3a or small interfering RNA for FOXO3a to knockdown the function of FOXO3a in HIV-1-infected MDM decreased DNA fragmentation and protected macrophages from death in HIV-1-infected MDM. Overexpression of constitutively active Akt-1 increased FOXO3a phosphorylation, suggesting that FOXO3a phosphorylation in human MDM is dependent on Akt-1. We therefore conclude that FOXO3a plays an important role in HIV-1-induced cell death of human macrophage. Understanding the PI3K/Akt-1/FOXO3a pathway and its associated death mechanism in macrophages during HIV-1 infection would lead to identification of potential therapeutic avenues for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurotoxicology, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198, USA.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yunlong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jialin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D017209:Apoptosis; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000071316:Forkhead Box Protein O3; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C499517:FOXO3 protein, human; D000071316:Forkhead Box Protein O3; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt