Mapping of HIV-1 Tat protein sequences required for binding to Tar RNA

We have utilized a gel retardation assay to study the binding of chemically synthesized domains of the HIV-1 Tat protein to radiolabeled trans-activating response element (Tar) RNA. As with recombinant Tat protein, synthetic Tat specifically binds to Tar RNA and not to a defective Tar RNA or to anti-sense Tar RNA. The 6 amino acid portion of the basic region containing five arginines is sufficient to confer Tar binding to overlapping Tat protein fragments; Tat fragments that lack the basic region do not bind Tar. In addition, the basic region alone can also bind Tar RNA; however, binding of the basic region is non specific since defective Tar RNA is bound as well as wild type Tar RNA. Binding specificity for wild type Tar RNA can be conferred by the addition of a minimum of 8 random amino acids to either end of the basic region.     

Antibodies to the HIV-1 Tat protein correlated with nonprogression to AIDS: a rationale for the use of Tat toxoid as an HIV-1 vaccine

OBJECTIVES: To investigate which immune parameters, such as antibodies against HIV-1 specificities, or viral parameters, such as p24 antigenemia, are predictive of disease progression. STUDY DESIGN: We performed studies on serum collected from individuals exhibiting two extremes of disease evolution--67 fast progressors (FP) and 182 nonprogressors (NP)--at their enrollment. After a 1- to 2-year clinical follow-up of 104 nonprogressors after their enrollment, we could determine the best serologic predictors for disease progression. METHODS: We investigated levels of antibodies to tetanus toxoid and to HIV antigens including Env, Gag, Nef, and Tat proteins, as well as p24 antigenemia, viremia, CD4 cell count, and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) titers in FPs and NPs, and we correlated these data with clinical and biologic signs of progression. RESULTS: p24 Antigenemia, a marker of viral replication, and anti-Tat antibodies were highly and inversely correlated in both groups (P < .001). Furthermore, anti-p24 antibodies and low serum IFN-alpha levels were correlated to the NP versus the FP cohort. Finally, among NPs, only antibodies to Tat and not to the other HIV specificities (Env, Nef, Gag) were significantly predictive of clinical stability during their follow-up. CONCLUSION: Antibodies toward HIV-1 Tat, which are inversely correlated to p24 antigenemia, appear as a critical marker for a lack of disease progression. This study strongly suggests that rising anti-Tat antibodies through active immunization may be beneficial in AIDS vaccine development to control viral replication.     

Selective up-regulation of functional CXCR4 expression in erythroid cells by HIV-1 Tat protein

CXCR4 is the high affinity receptor for the SDF-1 alpha chemokine and represents the main coreceptor for HIV-1 T-tropic strains. The surface expression of CXCR4 was analysed in CD34+ haematopoietic progenitors, induced to differentiate along the erythroid or granulocytic lineages, in liquid cultures supplemented or not with HIV-1 Tat protein. At concentrations as low as 1-10 ng/ml, synthetic Tat protein significantly increased the surface expression of CXCR4 in erythroid but not in granulocytic cells. The Tat-mediated up-regulation of surface CXCR4 was accompanied by a concomitant increase of CXCR4 mRNA and total CXCR4 protein content in cells developing along the erythroid lineage after 6-10 days of culture. Moreover, addition of SDF-1 alpha (200 ng/ml) induced a significant higher rate of apoptosis in Tat-treated erythroid cells in comparison with control cells. These results demonstrated for the first time a direct positive role in haematopoietic gene regulation of Tat protein, and suggest the possible involvement of Tat in HIV-1-induced anaemia.     

A region of basic amino-acid cluster in HIV-1 Tat protein is essential forTrans-acting activity and nucleolar localization

Thetrans-acting factor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Tat, has a basic amino-acid cluster that is highly conserved among different HIV isolates. We have examined the effects of mutations in the basic region of Tat on itstrans-acting activity and cellular localization. Introduction of a stop codon immediately preceding the basic region abolished the activity, while the truncated mutant with the basic region retained some activity. The basic region of Tat was replaceable with that of Rev (anothertrans-acting factor of HIV) but not with that of adenovirus Ela nor cellular enzyme. The result of immunofluorescence analysis revealed a correlation between the nuclear, especially nucleolar, accumulation and the activities of mutant Tat proteins.     

Antibody to HIV-1 Tat protein inhibits the replication of virus in culture

Summary The HIV-1 transactivator protein Tat is essential for viral replication. Tat is released from infected cells and can be taken up and transactivate HIV-LTR in LTR-CAT transfected cell lines. The present study shows that the addition of monoclonal antibody to Tat in IIIB and MN-infected cultures reduces the HIV antigen production in a concentration dependent manner. These data suggest that external Tat might be important in the replication of HIV, exerting the effect in a paracrine fashion. Using 1 µg/ml of anti-Tat antibody resulted in a decline of HIV antigen production to 33% and 45% of controls in IIIB and MN infected H9 cells, respectively. A time course experiment showed progressively increased inhibition of replication during 7 days of exposure to anti-Tat antibody, which could be due to increasing Tat concentration. The inhibitory effect of anti-Tat antibodies on the replication of HIV could play an important regulatory role during infection in vivo.     

Competition between tuftsin and HIV-1, HIV-2 envelope protein sequences.

Syntheses of tuftsin-like partial sequences of HIV-1 and HIV-2 gp-120 proteins: Thr-Lys-Ala-Lys (I), Thr-Lys-Ala-Lys-Arg (II), Pro-Thr-Lys-Ala-Lys-Arg (III), Thr-Lys-Glu-Lys (IV), Thr-Lys-Glu-Lys-Arg (V), and Pro-Thr-Lys-Glu-Lys-Arg (VI) are described. From HIV-1 partial sequences peptide I inhibited the phagocytosis stimulating activity of tuftsin. The inhibitory potency diminished progressively for peptides II and III, in parallel to the increase of their slight phagocytosis stimulating activity. Similar results were obtained also for the fragments of the HIV-2 gp120 protein. The inhibitory activity, clearly visible for IV, diminished with peptide chain elongation. Peptides IV and VI were devoided of the phagocytosis stimulating activity while peptide V was slightly active.     

Safety and immunogenicity of HIV-1 Tat toxoid in immunocompromised HIV-1-infected patients

OBJECTIVES: To antagonize the deleterious effects of the HIV-1 toxin extracellular Tat on uninfected immune cells, we developed a new strategy of anti-HIV-1 vaccine using an inactivated but immunogenic Tat (Tat toxoid). Tat toxoid has been assayed for safety and immunogenicity in seropositive patients. METHOD: The phase I vaccine clinical trial testing Tat toxoid preparation in Seppic Isa 51 oil adjuvant was performed on 14 HIV-1-infected asymptomatic although biologically immunocompromised individuals (500-200 CD4+ cells/mm3). RESULTS: Following as many as 8 injections, no clinical defects were observed. All patients exhibited an antibody (Ab) response to Tat, and some had cell-mediated immunity (CMI) as evaluated by skin test in vivo and T-cell proliferation in vitro. CONCLUSION: These results provide initial evidence of safety and potency of Tat toxoid vaccination in HIV-1-infected individuals.     

Activation of human microglial cells by HIV-1 gp41 and Tat proteins

The viral proteins, Tat (HIV-1 nuclear protein) and gp41 (HIV-1 coat protein), detected in the brains of HIV-1-infected patients have been shown to be neurotoxic. We investigated the effects of HIV-1 Tat and gp41 proteins on cytokine, chemokine, and superoxide anion (O(-)(2)) production by microglia, the resident macrophages of the brain. Tat and gp41 dose-dependently stimulated cytokine and chemokine production by microglia. Peak production of these cytokines and chemokines differed in microglial cells treated with gp41 and Tat. Expression of cytokine and chemokine mRNA was also stimulated in gp41- and Tat-treated microglia. Neither gp41 nor Tat alone stimulated O(-)(2) production by microglia. Treatment of microglial cells with Tat but not with gp41 evoked an increase in intracellular Ca(2+). The results of this study suggest that HIV-1 Tat and gp41 proteins impact several key functions of microglial cells which could contribute to the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1.     

HIV-1 Tat蛋白对U87细胞活性及氧化应激的影响

目的:研究HAD和非HAD的艾滋病患者不同部位来源的Tat蛋白氨基酸位点变异及其对U87细胞氧化应激的影响。方法:采用BLAST和MEGA6对一例HAD患者(H)和一例非HAD患者(N)的基底节(BG)、脾脏(SPL)共4个部位来源的HIV-1 Tat蛋白进行序列分析,研究其氨基酸位点变异,并将 tat基因...     

Signaling pathways triggered by HIV-1 Tat in human monocytes to induce TNF-alpha

In this study we investigated the signaling pathways triggered by Tat in human monocyte to induce TNF-alpha. In monocytes, the calcium, the PKA, and the PKC pathways are highly implicated in the expression of cytokine genes. Thus, these three major signaling pathways were investigated. Our data show that (i) PKC and calcium pathways are required for TNF-alpha production, whereas the PKA pathway seems to be not involved; (ii) downstream from PKC, activation of NFkappaB is essential while ERK1/2 MAP kinases, even though activated by Tat, are not directly involved in the pathway signaling leading to TNF-alpha production.     

HIV-1 Tat调控MCAK基因启动子活性及作用位点的鉴定

目的研究HIV-1 Tat对MCAK启动子活性及基因表达的抑制作用,并鉴定Tat与MCAK启动子的作用位点。方法利用原核表达的Tat蛋白处理A549细胞,通过Western印迹技术验证HIV-1Tat对MCAK基因表达的抑制作用;构建MCAK启动子-荧光素酶载体,转染A549细胞,通过荧光素酶活性分析Tat对启动子活性的调控作用;运用染色质免疫沉淀法(CHIP)分析Tat与MCAK启动区的相互作用,并进一步通过凝胶阻滞实验(EMSA)确定Tat与MCAK启动区的结合位点。结果 Western印迹实验证实Tat对MCAK表达具有强烈的抑制作用;荧光报告质粒检测系统分析表明在Tat存在的情况下,MCAK的核心启动子活性受到明显的抑制,其效应具有明显的剂量依赖性;CHIP和EMSA实验确定Tat蛋白与MCAK基因启动子区的直接相互作用,MCAK基因-337～-232区域存在Tat蛋白的结合位点。结论 HIV-1 Tat对MCAK基因表达具有强烈的抑制作用,并与Tat蛋白结合于MCAK启动区-337～-232区域,从而导致MCAK启动子活性降低有关。     

Efficient mucosal delivery of the HIV-1 Tat protein using the synthetic lipopeptide MALP-2 as adjuvant

A major requirement for HIV/AIDS research is the development of a mucosal vaccine that stimulates humoral and cell-mediated immune responses at systemic and mucosal levels, thereby blocking virus replication at the entry port. Thus, a vaccine prototype based on biologically active HIV-1 Tat protein as antigen and the synthetic lipopeptide, macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 (MALP-2), asa mucosal adjuvant was developed. Intranasal administration to mice stimulated systemic and mucosal anti-Tat antibody responses, and Tat-specific T cell responses, that were more efficient than those observed after i.p. immunization with Tat plus incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Major linear B cell epitopes mapped within aa 1-20 and 46-60, whereas T cell epitopes were identified within aa 36-50 and 56-70. These epitopes have also been described in vaccinated primates and in HIV-1-infected individuals with better prognosis. Analysis of the anti-Tat IgG isotypes in serum, and the cytokine profile of spleen cells indicated that a dominant Th1 helper response was stimulated by Tat plus MALP-2, as opposed to the Th2 response observed with Tat plus incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Tat-specific IFN-gamma-producing cells were significantly increased only in response to Tat plus MALP-2. These data suggest that Malp-2 may represent an optimal mucosal adjuvant for candidate HIV vaccines based on Tat alone or in combination with other HIV antigens.