title: Knockdown of ERM family member moesin in host cells increases HIV type 1 replication.
abstract: Moesin is a member of the ERM (ezrin, radixin, moesin) family of cytoskeleton/membrane structure organizing and signal transduction proteins. Previously, we found an increased expression of moesin during HIV-1 infection. Moesin was also reported to be incorporated into HIV-1 virions. To analyze whether moesin is a host factor affecting the replication cycle of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), we used small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to evaluate the effect of moesin knockdown on HIV-1 replication in P4-CCR5 cells. Moesin's knockdown did not affect the cell viability or cell phenotype. Interestingly, we observed a marked increase in viral replication, as demonstrated by enhanced HIV-1 RNA, p24 antigen, and ß-galactosidase reporter expression. Moesin-dependent enhancement of HIV-1 replication was confirmed in lymphocytic host cells (Jurkat). These results suggest an overall rather restrictive role of moesin for HIV-1 replication in host cells in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology and Infectious Diseases, J. W. Goethe-University Hospital, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capalbo
authors.forename: Thea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mueller-Kuller
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Markovic
authors.forename: Stefan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoelzer
authors.forename: Oliver G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Ottmann
authors.forename: Urban J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Scheuring
mesh_terms: D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C071058:moesin; D016899:Interferon-beta