title: The HIV-1 gp120/V3 modifies the response of uninfected CD4 T cells to antigen presentation: mapping of the specific transcriptional signature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 infection is characterized by a progressive depletion of uninfected peripheral effector/memory CD4+ T cells that subsequently leads to immune dysfunction and AIDS symptoms. We have previously demonstrated that the presence of specific gp120/V3 peptides during antigen presentation can modify the activation of normal T-cells leading to altered immune function. The aim of the present study was to map the specific transcriptional profile invoked by an HIV-1/V3 epitope in uninfected T cells during antigen presentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We exposed primary human peripheral blood monocytes to V3 lipopeptides using a liposome delivery system followed by a superantigen-mediated antigen presentation system. We then evaluated the changes in the T-cell transcriptional profile using oligonucleotide microarrays and performed Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) and DAVID analysis. The results were validated using realtime PCR, FACS, Western blotting and immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results revealed that the most highly modulated transcripts could almost entirely be categorized as related to the cell cycle or transcriptional regulation. The most statistically significant enriched categories and networks identified by IPA were associated with cell cycle, gene expression, immune response, infection mechanisms, cellular growth, proliferation and antigen presentation. Canonical pathways involved in energy and cell cycle regulation, and in the co-activation of T cells were also enriched.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these results document a distinct transcriptional profile invoked by the HIV-1/V3 epitope. These data could be invaluable to determine the underlying mechanism by which HIV-1 epitopes interfere with uninfected CD4+ T-cell function causing hyper proliferation and AICD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Antigone K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Morou
authors.forename: Filippos
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porichis
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krambovitis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sourvinos
authors.forename: Demetrios A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spandidos
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zafiropoulos
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D010446:Peptide Fragments