Multifunctional activity of recombinant p14 on lymphoid cell cultures

Some effects of recombinant p14, a protein encoded by the tat gene of immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), were investigated on T lymphocytic cell cultures. In particular, we detected p14 adsorption to cells, the rate of cell replication, the expression of fibronectin (FN) and its receptor (FNR) and of cell surface CD4 antigen in HIV-1-infected or uninfected MT-4 and H9 cells, treated with p14. Moreover, we evaluated the proportion of apoptotic cells in uninfected and chronically infected H9 cells in the presence of p14 and the modulation of interferon (IFN) production induced by p14 in PBMC of healthy subjects. The results obtained demonstrate that p14 exerts multifunctional activities on HIV-1 infected and uninfected cells. In particular, this protein interacts in a specific manner with cell surface, especially with that of infected cells, and enhances the expression of FN and FNR but not that of the CD4 lymphocyte antigen. Moreover, p14 increases cell replication, IFN production and can exert a slight modulation of apoptosis. We also propose a model to explain a possible role in HIV-1 infection of the effects of exogenous p14.