Activation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat by vaccinia virus.

A variety of DNA viruses are known to activate gene expression directed by the long terminal repeat (LTR) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In light of the proposed use of recombinant vaccinia virus for HIV-1 vaccines, evaluation of the role of vaccinia virus in HIV-1 activation is warranted. To investigate whether vaccinia virus induces HIV LTR-directed gene expression, transient expression assays in Jurkat cells persistently infected with vaccinia virus (Jvac) using plasmid DNA containing the LTR linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene were performed. CAT activity in Jvac cells was always recorded, although the level appears to fluctuate independently of virus titers. Dual intracytoplasmic staining and fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis showed that CAT activity was expressed in the infected cells. CAT expression was not due to plasmid replication, since plasmid DNA extracted from Jvac cells 48 h after transfection was restricted only by enzymes which recognize methylated sequences, indicating a prokaryotic source for the DNA. These findings suggest that a factor(s) present in vaccinia virus-infected cells is capable of activating the LTR of HIV-1.     

Dual activity of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate on kappa B-dependent gene expression in U937 cells: I. Regulation by the phorbol ester TPA.

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) has been widely used as an inhibitor of the nuclear factor-kappa B, (NF-kappa B) signalling pathway. Here, we show that kappa B-dependent reporter gene expression induced by low concentrations of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is potentiated by PDTC in the human pro-monocytic U937 cell line. The stimulatory effect of PDTC on kappa B-dependent gene expression was shown with a 4 x kappa B chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct and required an intact kappa B element in the human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat (HIV-1 LTR). Unexpectedly, an HIV-1 LTR construct with a mutation of the activator protein 2 (AP-2) binding site located between the two kappa B elements was unresponsive to the stimulatory effect of PDTC with TPA. The stimulation or inhibition of kappa B-dependent gene expression was dependent on PDTC pre-treatment and the concentration of TPA. No stimulatory effect on HIV-1 LTR activity was observed with the metal chelator dipyridyl or the anti-oxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that PDTC treatment potentiated kappa B-dependent gene expression in a manner dependent on the concentration of TPA.     

Signaling through T lymphocyte surface proteins, TCR/CD3 and CD28, activates the HIV-1 long terminal repeat

The state of T cell activation and proliferation controls HIV-1 replication and gene expression. Previously, we demonstrated that the administration of PHA and PMA to the human T cell line Jurkat activates the HIV-1 enhancer, which is composed of two nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B) binding sites. Here, we show that PMA alone is sufficient for this effect. In addition, activation of T cells through the surface proteins TCR/CD3 and CD28 increased gene expression directed by the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) to the same extent as PMA. Analysis of 5' deletions in the LTR revealed that the NF kappa B binding sites and sequences in the upstream U3 region are required for this response. Whereas cyclosporin A did not inhibit the effect of PMA, it reduced the effects of agonists to TCR/CD3 and CD28 on the LTR. H7, an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), blocked the effects of all stimuli. Thus, PMA activates the NF kappa B sites through a PKC-dependent pathway while ligands to TCR/CD3 and CD28 activate the LTR through a cyclosporin A-sensitive, PKC-dependent pathway of T cell activation. We conclude that mechanisms involved in the expression of IL-2 and the alpha-chain of the IL-2R alpha genes also play a role in the regulation of HIV-1. Physiologic stimuli can activate HIV-1 gene expression; agents that block T cell activation also inhibit activation of the LTR. These observations might serve as a model for the regulation of HIV-1 gene expression in peripheral blood T cells.     

Lack of a role of the interferon-stimulated response element-like region in interferon alpha -induced suppression of Hepatitis B virus in vitro

The antiviral effect of interferon-alpha (IFNalpha) on hepatitis B virus (HBV) is well documented in vitro and in vivo, but the mechanisms involved are elusive. Recently, an interferon-stimulated response like element (ISRE) competent for binding of interferon-stimulated gene factor-3gamma (p48) has been identified in the HBV enhancer I region. Mutation of this element was shown to abrogate IFNalpha-mediated reduction of HBV X-gene promoter-driven reporter gene expression. This suggested a role of the ISRE and of p48 in IFNalpha-induced antiviral activity against productive HBV infection. Here, we analyzed the antiviral effect of both IFNalpha and enhanced p48 expression on complete HBV genomes containing the wild-type or mutated ISRE. In human hepatoma cells transfected with both genomes, viral RNA and replicative intermediates were reduced by IFNalpha treatment to a similar degree. Enhanced p48 expression increased IFNalpha-induced suppression of HBV RNA significantly from 75 +/- 22.5% to 46 +/- 9.8%, but this was independent of the integrity of the ISRE-like region. These data imply that p48 neither mediates the antiviral activity of IFNalpha against HBV nor down-regulates enhancer I activity by binding directly to the HBV ISRE-like region, but rather argue for an indirect role of p48.     

Identification of protein-binding sites in the hepatitis B virus enhancer and core promoter domains.

We have investigated the role of liver-specific trans-acting factor(s) in the regulation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene expression. A recorder plasmid (pEcoAluCAT; HBV nucleotides 1 through 1878) was constructed containing the HBV enhancer and the promoter region of the pregenomic RNA, which was ligated to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene. Upon transfecting this plasmid into various cell lines, the CAT gene was expressed only in cells of liver origin. Moreover, competition cotransfections with pEcoAluCAT and plasmids containing HBV enhancer sequences in human hepatoblastoma-derived HepG2 cells indicated the presence of titratable trans-acting factor(s) in these cells. Gel mobility shift assays using HBV enhancer and core promoter domains confirmed the existence of sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins in liver cell nuclear extract which bound to these regions. These binding sites encompass 17- and 12-nucleotide palindromes in the HBV enhancer and core promoter domains, respectively, when mapped by the methylation interference assay.