title: Thymosin α 1 potentiates the release by CD8(+) cells of soluble factors able to inhibit HIV-1 and human T lymphotropic virus 1 infection in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thymosin α-1 (Tα1) exploits a specific action on lymphoid cells and is able to induce in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) a strong transcriptional response. CD8 antiviral factor activity plays a role in the control or prevention of HIV-1 infection by a non-cytolytic mechanism. The ability of Tα1 to modulate the release of antiretroviral soluble factors by CD8(+) cells was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Supernatants from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated CD8(+)-isolated cells treated with Tα1 were screened on in vitro infection of human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and PBMCs with HIV-1, and of PBMCs with human T lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1). In CD8(+) cells, as well as in PBMCs of healthy donors as from HIV(+) individuals, a microarray analysis to assess the transcriptional response after treatment was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tα1 potentiates the release, in LPS-stimulated CD8(+) cells, of soluble factors able to inhibit both in vitro HIV-1 infection of MDMs and PBMCs and in vitro HTLV-1 infection of PBMCs. A distinctive transcriptional profile was induced by Tα1 in PBMCs from HIV(+) donors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that Tα1 would represent a re-evaluated approach to antiretroviral therapy in combination with innovative treatments and with vaccine administration.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery , Via Montpellier, 1, 00133, Rome , Italy +39 06 72596592 ; +39 06 72596550 ; matteucci@med.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matteucci
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minutolo
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pollicita
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balestrieri
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grelli
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Ettorre
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vullo
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luchini
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aquaro
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sinibaldi-Vallebona
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.forename: Carlo Federico
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Perno
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mastino
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garaci
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin
keywords: CD8 antiviral factor; HIV-1; Thymosin α 1; chemokines; human T lymphotropic virus 1; immunotherapy