title: HIV gp120 induced gene expression signatures in vaginal epithelial cells.
abstract: Gp120 is the envelope protein of HIV which binds to CD4 independent proteins on vaginal epithelial cells. HIV-gp120 has been reported to modulate gene expression in several cell types. How this interaction may alter the physiologic vaginal milieu during the earliest stages of vaginal transmission of HIV, is currently unknown. Vaginal epithelial cells were treated with HIV-gp120, and a global snapshot of changes in gene expression profiles, were unraveled by microarray analysis. The differentially expressed genes were involved in diverse cellular functions. Genes of immunomodulatory processes and induction of proteases were highly enriched. We propose that the induction of inflammation and proteases may act in concert to weaken the vaginal epithelium, making it more permeable to viral entry. Identification of the gene signatures involved in vaginal-HIV dialogue would aid in understanding the environ induced by HIV itself, as the virus invades and gains entry into its host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai 400012, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Sashaina E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Fanibunda
authors.forename: Deepak N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Modi
authors.forename: Atmaram H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Bandivdekar
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000378:metabolism*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C514793:gp120 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
keywords: HIV; Inflammation; Microarray; Proteases; Vagina; gp120