Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026

High Throughput In Vitro Assessment of Latency Reversing Agents on HIV Transcription and Splicing
Published on: January 22, 2019
Cutting edge: activation of HIV-1 transcription by the MHC class II transactivator
M Saifuddin1, K A Roebuck, Ch Chang
1Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. msaifudd@rush.edu
Both macrophages and activated CD4+ T cells can be productively infected by HIV-1, and both cell types express MHC class II molecules. Expression of MHC class II proteins in these cells is regulated by a specific transcriptional coactivator, the class II transactivator (CIITA). In this study, we report for the first time that CIITA expression profoundly influences HIV-1 replication. Stable expression of CIITA in Jurkat cells markedly increased 1) HIV-1 replication as assessed by the p24 Ag production and 2) luciferase expression after transfection with full-length provirus or long terminal repeat constructs. Similarly, transient expression of CIITA increased provirus expression as well as long terminal repeat promoter activity in 293 and HeLa-T4 cells. In contrast, mutant forms of CIITA did not increase HIV-1 expression. This study shows that expression of CIITA increases HIV-1 replication through a transcriptional mechanism.
Both macrophages and activated CD4+ T cells can be productively infected by HIV-1, and both cell types express MHC class II molecules. Expression of MHC class II proteins in these cells is regulated by a specific transcriptional coactivator, the class II transactivator (CIITA). In this study, we report for the first time that CIITA expression profoundly influences HIV-1 replication. Stable expression of CIITA in Jurkat cells markedly increased 1) HIV-1 replication as assessed by the p24 Ag production and 2) luciferase expression after transfection with full-length provirus or long terminal repeat constructs. Similarly, transient expression of CIITA increased provirus expression as well as long terminal repeat promoter activity in 293 and HeLa-T4 cells. In contrast, mutant forms of CIITA did not increase HIV-1 expression. This study shows that expression of CIITA increases HIV-1 replication through a transcriptional mechanism.
More Related Videos
12:09Use of Single Chain MHC Technology to Investigate Co-agonism in Human CD8+ T Cell Activation
Published on: February 28, 2019
13:47Lentiviral Vector Platform for the Efficient Delivery of Epigenome-editing Tools into Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Disease Models
Published on: March 29, 2019
Related Concept Videos
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
Eukaryotic Transcription Activators
The binding domains are capable of recognizing and interacting with regulatory sequences on the DNA. These domains are...
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
Antigen Processing Pathways
MHC Class I: Presenting Endogenous...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly