Related Experiment Videos
C-C chemokine RANTES and HIV long terminal repeat-driven gene expression
A Garzino-Demo1, S K Arya, A L Devico
1Institute of Human Virology, Medical Biotechnology Center, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA.
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
|November 14, 1997
Summary
C-C chemokines, like RANTES, reduce HIV-1 RNA levels in CD4+ T cells. However, these chemokines do not inhibit HIV-1 RNA transcription, suggesting other mechanisms are involved in viral suppression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- C-C chemokines (RANTES, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta) are known HIV/SIV suppressive factors from CD8+ cells.
- Chemokine receptors play a role in HIV entry.
- Chemokines influence intracellular signaling pathways affecting transcription.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if C-C chemokines inhibit HIV-1 RNA transcription.
- To determine the effect of RANTES on HIV-1 LTR expression.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of CD4+ T cells with C-C chemokines or CD8+ cell supernatants.
- Analysis of HIV-1-specific RNA by Northern blot hybridization.
- Assay of HIV-1 LTR-directed reporter gene expression (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) in response to RANTES and HIV Tat.
Main Results:
- Treatment with C-C chemokines or CD8+ cell supernatants reduced HIV-1 RNA abundance.
- RANTES did not alter basal or Tat-induced HIV-1 LTR-directed reporter gene expression.
Conclusions:
- C-C chemokines do not inhibit HIV-1 RNA transcription.
- The observed reduction in HIV-1 RNA by C-C chemokines is likely mediated by post-transcriptional mechanisms.