HIV-1 reactivation after an oxidative stress mediated by different reactive oxygen species

An important aspect of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) type 1 is its long clinical latency period, suggesting that the provirus may remain latent for extended periods of time after primary infection. Numerous factors such as cytokines, tumor promoters, co-infection by several viruses and physical agents are able to reactivate latent virus. Since a common denominator, shared by several of these agents, is their ability to cause stress conditions, we have examined the effects of an oxidative stress mediated by reactive oxygen species on HIV-1 latently infected monocytes (U1) or lymphocytes (ACH-2). Exposure of these two cell lines to hydrogen peroxide causes a decrease of cell viability but among the cells surviving the treatment, a HIV-1 reactivation can be observed as measured by increased RT activities depicted in cell supernatants or by the appearance of HIV-1 antigens inside cells. Singlet oxygen (1O2) when generated either in the cytoplasm or in the cell nucleus can also promote an important HIV-1 reactivation from treated cells. However, extracellular generation of 1O2 cannot trigger the HIV-1 reactivation although this kind of treatment is highly cytotoxic. These experiments demonstrate that different reactive oxygen species are able to lead to an intracellular pro-oxidant state initiating one or several signalling pathways which lead in fine to the HIV-1 LTR transactivation by regulatory proteins.