Treponema pallidum, its membrane lipoproteins, and synthetic lipoprotein analogues (lipopeptides) were each examined to determine whether they induced CCR5 expression on human peripheral blood ...mononuclear cells (PBMC). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for CCR5 gene transcripts, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1beta binding assays, and flow cytometry revealed that either T. pallidum, a representative treponemal lipoprotein, or a corresponding synthetic lipopeptide induced CCR5 on CD14 monocytes but not on CD3 lymphocytes. CXCR4, the coreceptor for T cell-tropic strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), was not induced on PBMC by treponemes or by lipoproteins or lipopeptides. Consistent with these findings, T. pallidum, lipoprotein, and synthetic lipopeptide all promoted the entry of a macrophage-tropic, but not a T cell-tropic, strain of HIV-1 into monocytes. These combined results imply that T. pallidum and its constituent lipoproteins likely induce the expression of CCR5 on macrophages in syphilitic lesions, thereby enhancing transmission of macrophage-tropic HIV-1.
Abstract
We have investigated the phenotype, location, molecular signature and function of follicular CD4 T helper cells (TFH) in rhesus macaques. Similar to human TFH, they are characterized by a ...CCR7lowPD-1highICOShighCTLA-4highCXCR4high phenotype and represent a heterogeneous population with respect to cytokine function. PD-1high CD4 cells were localized closer to the follicle center than PD-1low CD4 cells. This relative cellular distribution was not affected by the SIV infection. Production of Th1 cytokines was compromised while IL-4 was secreted predominantly by a highly differentiated (CD150low) subpopulation of TFH cells. Compared to non-TFH cells, TFH cells exhibited a distinct gene profile that was significantly altered by SIV infection. A significant reduction in the expression of the IL-4 gene in TFH was found implying a defective help for the development of B cell responses during chronic SIV. CD150low TFH cells were characterized by defective survival while in vivo BrdU integration studies revealed a defective cycling capacity of these cells. Preferential infection of TFH cells was found only during acute SIV yet progression to chronic SIV resulted in their accumulation, which was associated with high immune activation and altered IL-6-induced signaling. Thus, the preservation of TFH in the face of high rates of infection can be explained by their normally short half-life and the diverse populations of CD4 T cells that can provide to their continual replenishment.
Abstract
Epistatic interactions between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and their cognate HLA class I ligands have important implications for reproductive success, anti-viral ...immunity, susceptibility to autoimmune conditions and cancer, as well as for graft-versus-leukemia reactions in settings of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Although CD8 T cells are known to acquire KIRs when maturing from naïve to terminally differentiated cells, little information is available about the constitution of KIR repertoires on human CD8 T cells. Here, we have performed a high-resolution analysis of KIR-expression on CD8 T cells. The results show that most CD8 T cells possess a restricted KIR expression-pattern, often dominated by a single activating or inhibitory KIR. Furthermore, the expression of KIR, and its modulation of CD8 T cell function, was independent of expression of self-HLA class I-ligands. Finally, despite similarities in the stochastic regulation of KIRs by the bi-directional proximal promoter, the specificity of inhibitory KIRs on CD8 T cells was often distinct from that of NK cells in the same individual. The results provide new insight into the formation of KIR repertoires on human T cells.
Multiple monoclonal and polyclonal antibody preparations have been shown to neutralize HIV-1 infection
in vitro. Upon direct testing in humans, however, many of these have failed to demonstrate ...clinical efficacy. Hu-PBL-SCID mice offer a model system in which to test the pre-clinical efficacy of antibody preparations. Testing in hu-PBL-SCID mice has shown that some antibodies are able to mediate pre- and post-exposure protection against HIV-1 infection, at concentrations that should be attainable in humans. Despite differences in the route and mode of transmission in humans and in hu-PBL-SCID mice, several aspects of the model make it a favorable model for future testing of antibody protection against HIV-1 infection. These include the architecture of the peritoneal cavity, the mixture of human cells that engraft, the density of human target cells for HIV-1 infection, and the presence of complement and NK cells that can interact with antibody preparations in blocking HIV-1 infection. The use of this model in testing newer antibody preparations for efficacy against primary isolates should enhance our knowledge of the mechanisms of antibody protection against HIV-1 infection
in vivoand speed the pre-clinical evaluation of potential immunoprophylactic agents against HIV-1.
Replication of the IIIB strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1IIIB) in CB.17 scid/scid mice reconstituted with human peripheral blood lymphocytes (Hu-PBL-SCID) was investigated. ...Hu-PBL-SCID mice could be infected, in a dose-dependent manner, when HIV-1IIIB was injected intraperitoneally. Replication-competent HIV-1 could be recovered from spleen, peripheral blood, bone marrow, thymus, lymph node, and peritoneal cavity, indicating the ability of the infection to spread to human tissue throughout the chimeric animals. HIV-1 infection was quantitated using p24 determination, end-point dilution culture, and polymerase chain reaction amplification. The level of HIV-1 replication in Hu-PBL-SCID mice was found to approximate the level reported in human infection. No HIV-1-specific immune response was generated to this infection, but nonspecific immune activation did occur, as also reported in human infection. Similarities therefore exist between HIV-1 infection of humans and Hu-PBL-SCID mice, which makes the latter an in vivo model in which to study HIV-1 replication.
HIV-1 actively replicates in dendritic cell (DC)-T cell cocultures, but it has been difficult to demonstrate substantial infection of purified mature DCs. We now find that HIV-1 begins reverse ...transcription much more efficiently in DCs than T cells, even though T cells have higher levels of CD4 and gp120 binding. DCs isolated from skin or from blood precursors behave similarly. Several M-tropic strains and the T-tropic strain IIIB enter DCs efficiently, as assessed by the progressive formation of the early products of reverse transcription after a 90-min virus pulse at 37 degrees C. However, few late gag-containing sequences are detected, so that active viral replication does not occur. The formation of these early transcripts seems to follow entry of HIV-1, rather than binding of virions that contain viral DNA. Early transcripts are scarce if DCs are exposed to virus on ice for 4 h, or for 90 min at 37 degrees C, conditions which allow virus binding. Also the early transcripts once formed are insensitive to trypsin. The entry of a M-tropic isolates is blocked by the chemokine RANTES, and the entry of IIIB by SDF-1. RANTES interacts with CCR5 and SDF-1 with CXCR4 receptors. Entry of M-tropic but not T-tropic virus is ablated in DCs from individuals who lack a functional CCR5 receptor. DCs express more CCR5 and CXCR4 mRNA than T cells. Therefore, while HIV-1 does not replicate efficiently in mature DCs, viral entry can be active and can be blocked by chemokines that act on known receptors for M- and T-tropic virus.
We used a human monoclonal antibody (MAb; 15e) to identify an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) epitope on HIV-1 gp120. 15e has been shown to recognize a conformation-dependent ...epitope on gp120 which is important in both CD4 binding and neutralizing of HIV-1 infection. 15e binds to gp120 of HIV-1IIIB but not HIV-1RF. Using a standard ADCC assay, 15e was found to mediate ADCC against cells infected with HIV-1IIIB but not HIV-1RF. 15e did not mediate ADCC against cells with recombinant gp120 bound to surface CD4, indicating that 15e does not mediate innocent bystander ADCC against uninfected CD4 cells. To better define the 15e epitope, we performed ADCC against target cells infected with a vaccinia vector which expresses processed HIV-1IIIB gp160 from which the third variable region was deleted (amino acids, 312-328). MAb 15e efficiently mediated ADCC against cells expressing this altered form of gp120, indicating that this region is not contributing to the conformational epitope defined by 15e. 15e defines an important epitope in the human immune response to HIV-1 infection. Antibodies with 15e-like activity may be useful in immunoprophylaxis or immunotherapy of HIV-1 infection.
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