title: Upregulation of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 expression by HIV-1 in vitro.
abstract: Co-infections with HIV-1 and the human T leukemia virus types 1 and 2 (HTLV-1, HTLV-2) occur frequently, particularly in large metropolitan areas where injection drug use is a shared mode of transmission. Recent evidence suggests that HIV-HTLV co-infections are associated with upregulated HTLV-1/2 virus expression and disease. An in vitro model of HIV-1 and HTLV-1/2 co-infection was utilized to determine if cell free HIV-1 virions or recombinant HIV-1 Tat protein (200-1,000 ng/ml) upregulated HTLV-1/2 expression and infectivity. Exposure to HIV-1 increased the number of HTLV-1 antigen expressing cells, from 6% at baseline to 12% at 24 hr, and 20% at 120 hr (P < 0.05) post-exposure. A similar, although less robust response was observed in HTLV-2 infected cells. HIV-1 co-localized almost exclusively with HTLV-1/2 positive cells. Exposure to HIV-1 Tat protein (1,000 ng/ml) increased HTLV-1 p19 expression almost twofold by 48 hr, and cells co-stimulated with 10 nM phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) showed almost a fourfold increase over baseline. It is concluded that HIV-1 augments HTLV-1/2 infectivity in vitro. The findings also suggest a role for the HIV-1 Tat protein and PMA-inducible cellular factors, in HIV-1 induced HTLV-1/2 antigen expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Upal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Debasis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eloby-Childress
authors.forename: Elsa L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Winsor
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Beilke
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015696:Gene Products, tat; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate