HIV-1 causes CD4 cell death through DNA-dependent protein kinase during viral integration.

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) has infected more than 60 million people and caused nearly 30 million deaths worldwide, ultimately the consequence of cytolytic infection of CD4(+) T cells. In humans and in macaque models, most of these cells contain viral DNA and are rapidly eliminated at the peak of viraemia, yet the mechanism by which HIV-1 induces helper T-cell death has not been defined. Here we show that virus-induced cell killing is triggered by viral integration. Infection by wild-type HIV-1, but not an integrase-deficient mutant, induced the death of activated primary CD4 lymphocytes. Similarly, raltegravir, a pharmacologic integrase inhibitor, abolished HIV-1-induced cell killing both in cell culture and in CD4(+) T cells from acutely infected subjects. The mechanism of killing during viral integration involved the activation of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), a central integrator of the DNA damage response, which caused phosphorylation of p53 and histone H2AX. Pharmacological inhibition of DNA-PK abolished cell death during HIV-1 infection in vitro, suggesting that processes which reduce DNA-PK activation in CD4 cells could facilitate the formation of latently infected cells that give rise to reservoirs in vivo. We propose that activation of DNA-PK during viral integration has a central role in CD4(+) T-cell depletion, raising the possibility that integrase inhibitors and interventions directed towards DNA-PK may improve T-cell survival and immune function in infected individuals.

HIV integration and T cell death: additional commentary.

Estaquier et al. provide commentary on our paper that elucidated the mechanism by which HIV-1 causes cell death in activated CD4 T lymphocytes. We showed that proviral DNA integration triggers DNA-PK dependent death signaling, leading to p53 phosphorylation and cell demise (Cooper A et al. Nature 498:376-379, 2013). They have raised several hypothetical points that we further clarify here.

Follicular CD8 T cells accumulate in HIV infection and can kill infected cells in vitro via bispecific antibodies.

Cytolytic CD8 T cells play a crucial role in the control and elimination of virus-infected cells and are a major focus of HIV cure efforts. However, it has been shown that HIV-specific CD8 T cells are infrequently found within germinal centers (GCs), a predominant site of active and latent HIV infection. We demonstrate that HIV infection induces marked changes in the phenotype, frequency, and localization of CD8 T cells within the lymph node (LN). Significantly increased frequencies of CD8 T cells in the B cell follicles and GCs were found in LNs from treated and untreated HIV-infected individuals. This profile was associated with persistent local immune activation but did not appear to be directly related to local viral replication. Follicular CD8 (fCD8) T cells, despite compromised cytokine polyfunctionality, showed good cytolytic potential characterized by high ex vivo expression of granzyme B and perforin. We used an anti-HIV/anti-CD3 bispecific antibody in a redirected killing assay and found that fCD8 T cells had better killing activity than did non-fCD8 T cells. Our results indicate that CD8 T cells with potent cytolytic activity are recruited to GCs during HIV infection and, if appropriately redirected to kill HIV-infected cells, could be an effective component of an HIV cure strategy.

The earliest steps in hepatitis B virus infection.

The early steps in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, a human hepadnavirus, initiates from cell attachment followed by entry and delivery of the genetic information to the nucleus. Despite the fact that these steps determine the virus-related pathogenesis, their molecular basis is poorly understood. Cumulative data suggest that this process can be divided to cell attachment, endocytosis, membrane fusion and post-fusion consecutive steps. These steps are likely to be regulated by the viral envelope proteins and by the cellular membrane, receptors and extracellular matrix. In the absence of animal model for HBV, the duck hepadnavirus DHBV turned out to be a fruitful animal model. Therefore data concerning the early, post-attachment steps in hepadnaviral entry are largely based on studies performed with DHBV in primary duck liver hepatocytes. These studies are now starting to illuminate the mechanisms of hepadnavirus route of cell entry and to provide some new insights on the molecular basis of the strict species specificity of hepadnavirus infection.

Productive replication of Ebola virus is regulated by the c-Abl1 tyrosine kinase.

Ebola virus causes a fulminant infection in humans resulting in diffuse bleeding, vascular instability, hypotensive shock, and often death. Because of its high mortality and ease of transmission from human to human, Ebola virus remains a biological threat for which effective preventive and therapeutic interventions are needed. An understanding of the mechanisms of Ebola virus pathogenesis is critical for developing antiviral therapeutics. Here, we report that productive replication of Ebola virus is modulated by the c-Abl1 tyrosine kinase. Release of Ebola virus-like particles (VLPs) in a cell culture cotransfection system was inhibited by c-Abl1-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) or by Abl-specific kinase inhibitors and required tyrosine phosphorylation of the Ebola matrix protein VP40. Expression of c-Abl1 stimulated an increase in phosphorylation of tyrosine 13 (Y(13)) of VP40, and mutation of Y(13) to alanine decreased the release of Ebola VLPs. Productive replication of the highly pathogenic Ebola virus Zaire strain was inhibited by c-Abl1-specific siRNAs or by the Abl-family inhibitor nilotinib by up to four orders of magnitude. These data indicate that c-Abl1 regulates budding or release of filoviruses through a mechanism involving phosphorylation of VP40. This step of the virus life cycle therefore may represent a target for antiviral therapy.

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis and lysosomal cleavage of hepatitis B virus capsid-like core particles.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) core particle serves as a protective capsid shell for the viral genome and is highly immunogenic. Recombinant capsid-like core particles are used as effective carriers of foreign T and B cell epitopes and as delivery vehicles for oligonucleotides. The core monomer contains an arginine-rich C terminus that directs core particle attachment to cells via membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Here we investigated the mechanism of recombinant core particle uptake and its intracellular fate following heparan sulfate binding. We found that the core particles are internalized in an energy-dependent manner. Core particle uptake is inhibited by chlorpromazine and by cytosol acidification known to block clathrin-mediated endocytosis but not by nystatin, which blocks lipid raft endocytosis. Particle uptake is abolished by expression of dominant negative forms of eps15 and Rab5, adaptors involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis and early endosome transport, respectively. Endocytosed particles are transported to lysosomes where the core monomer is endoproteolytically cleaved into its distinct domains. Using protease inhibitors, cathepsin B was identified as the enzyme responsible for core monomer cleavage. Finally we found that monomer cleavage promotes particle dissociation within cells. Together, our results show that HBV capsid-like core particles are internalized through clathrin-mediated endocytosis, leading to lysosomal cleavage of the core monomer and particle dissociation.

Recombinant viral capsids as an efficient vehicle of oligonucleotide delivery into cells.

Delivery of oligonucleotides (ON) into cells is a technical challenge. In this study, we utilized the capsid of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) to meet this goal. A single and short open reading frame of the virus programs efficient capsid production in bacteria. We show that these capsids can encapsulate ON in vitro and then mediate their delivery into cells with extreme efficiency. This process is cell type non-specific, rendering the recombinant HBV capsid a potentially valuable vehicle for ON delivery into a wide range of cultured cells.

Cytokine induction by the hepatitis B virus capsid in macrophages is facilitated by membrane heparan sulfate and involves TLR2.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) core Ag (HBcAg) serves as the structural subunit of the highly immunogenic capsid shell. HBcAg harbors a unique arginine-rich C terminus that was implicated in immune responses induced by the capsid. In this study, we examined the capacity of the HBV capsid to induce proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines in human THP-1 macrophages and the possible underlying mechanism. Full-length HBc capsids, but not HBc-144 capsids lacking the arginine-rich domain of HBcAg, efficiently bound differentiated THP-1 macrophages and strongly induced TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-12p40. Capsid binding to macrophages and cytokine induction were independent of the RNA associated with the arginine-rich domain. Soluble heparin and heparan sulfate but not chondroitin sulfates greatly diminished cytokine induction through inhibition of capsid binding to THP-1 macrophages. Furthermore, serine phosphorylation in the arginine-rich domain modulates capsid binding to macrophages and the cytokine response. Induction of cytokines by the capsid involved activation of NF-kappaB, ERK-1/2, and p38 MAPK and did not require endosomal acidification. Finally, NF-kappaB activation by the capsid in HEK 293 cells specifically required expression of TLR2 and was compromised by soluble heparin. Thus, cytokine induction by the HBV capsid in macrophages is facilitated by interaction of its arginine-rich domain with membrane heparan sulfate and involves signaling through TLR2.

Interaction of hepatitis B virus with cells.

Virus infection is initiated by recognition and attachment of the virus to the cell surface. Despite the fact that this interaction determines the virus-related pathogenesis, its molecular basis remained obscure for HBV. This process is mediated primarily by the viral envelope and the cellular receptors. HBV infection is not exceptional in this regard but its putative receptors have not been identified yet. The recent development of protocols to establish HBV susceptible cell lines and unique tools to measure HBV-cell attachment at a single cell resolution set the stage for the study of HBV-host cell interaction. These studies revealed that the QLDPAF epitope of the HBV surface antigen large protein (LHBsAg) plays a major role in this process. Quantitative measurements suggested the presence of a second player in this process and both act synergistically to improve cell attachment. As the step of virus-cell attachment is potentially susceptible to specific inhibitors, understanding the molecular basis of virus-cell attachment can be expected to have therapeutic impacts.