Trehalose limits opportunistic mycobacterial survival during HIV co-infection by reversing HIV-mediated autophagy

Vartika Sharma1, Muzamil Makhdoomi2, Lakshyaveer Singh1

  • 1Cellular Immunology Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.

Autophagy
|February 22, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection impairs autophagy, aiding opportunistic mycobacterial infections. Trehalose activates autophagy, killing bacteria and reducing HIV levels, offering a new therapy for HIV-associated comorbidities.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Opportunistic bacterial infections significantly increase mortality in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
  • The precise mechanisms by which HIV affects innate immunity, particularly autophagy, in promoting these infections are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how HIV modulates autophagy and its impact on the survival of mycobacterial pathogens.
  • To explore trehalose as a therapeutic agent to restore autophagy and combat HIV and co-infections.

Main Methods:

  • Examined the effect of HIV infection/reactivation on macrophage autophagy and mycobacterial survival.
  • Assessed the efficacy of trehalose in activating autophagy, enhancing xenophagy flux, and controlling intracellular mycobacteria.
  • Investigated the molecular pathway of trehalose-induced autophagy activation (PIKFYVE, TFEB, MCOLN1).
  • Evaluated trehalose's impact on HIV-p24 levels in patient-derived cells and mycobacterial control in animal models.

Main Results:

  • HIV infection/reactivation in macrophages inhibits autophagy, promoting the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs).
  • Trehalose activates autophagy via PIKFYVE and TFEB, restoring xenophagy flux and killing intracellular Mtb/NTMs.
  • Trehalose significantly reduced HIV-p24 levels in ex-vivo infected PBMCs and PBMCs from HIV patients, and controlled Mtb in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • Opportunistic bacterial pathogens exploit HIV-induced defects in host innate immunity.
  • Trehalose represents a promising therapeutic strategy to simultaneously address HIV and associated mycobacterial co-infections by restoring autophagy.