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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function
Published on: October 16, 2013
A soluble factor(s) secreted from CD8(+) T lymphocytes inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication
Theresa Li-Yun Chang1, Arevik Mosoian, Richard Pine
1Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Public Health Research Institute, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Abstract:
CD8(+) T lymphocytes can suppress human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication by secreting a soluble factor(s) known as CD8(+) T-lymphocyte antiviral factor (CAF). One site of CAF action is inhibition of HIV-1 RNA transcription, particularly at the step of long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven gene expression. However, the mechanism by which CAF inhibits LTR activation is not understood. Here, we show that conditioned media from several herpesvirus saimari-transformed CD8(+) T lymphocytes inhibit, in a time- and dose-dependent manner, the replication of HIV-1 pseudotype viruses that express the envelope glycoproteins of vesicular stomatitis virus (HIV-1(VSV)). The same conditioned media also inhibit phorbol myristate acetate-induced activation of the HIV-1 LTR and activate the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) protein. We have obtained direct evidence that STAT1 is necessary for CAF-mediated inhibition of LTR activation and HIV-1 replication. Thus, the inhibitory effect of CAF on HIV-1(VSV) replication was abolished in STAT1-deficient cells. Moreover, CAF inhibition of LTR activation was diminished both in STAT1-deficient cells and in cells expressing a STAT1 dominant negative mutant but was restored when STAT1 was reintroduced into the STAT1-deficient cells. We also observed that CAF induced the expression of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), and that IRF-1 gene induction was STAT-1 dependent. Taken together, our results suggest that CAF activates STAT1, leading to IRF-1 induction and inhibition of gene expression regulated by the HIV-1 LTR. This study therefore helps clarify one molecular mechanism of host defense against HIV-1.
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