title: The role of autophagy in THP-1 macrophages resistance to HIV- vpr-induced apoptosis.
abstract: Macrophages are resistant to cell death and are one of HIV reservoirs. HIV viral protein Vpr has the potential to promote infection of and survival of macrophages, which could be a highly significant factor in the development and/or maintenance of macrophage viral reservoirs. However, the impact of vpr on macrophages resistance to apoptosis is yet to be comprehended. Autophagy is a cell survival mechanism under stress state. In this study, we investigated whether autophagy is involved in macrophages resistant to vpr-induced apoptosis. Using the THP1 macrophages, we studied the interconnection between macrophages resistance to apoptosis and autophagy. We found that vpr is able to trigger autophagy in transfected THP-1 macrophages confirmed by electron microscopy (EM) and western blot analysis, and inhibition of autophagy with 3MA increased vpr-induced apoptosis. The results indicate that autophagy may be responsible for maintenance of macrophage HIV reservoirs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China. Electronic address: zhouhuaying_2004@126.com.
authors.forename: Hua-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Huang
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
authors.forename: Zi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001343:Autophagy; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
keywords: Autophagy; HIV-1; THP-1 macrophages; Vpr