Modeling HIV-1 Infection in CNS via Infected Monocytes Using Immunocompetent Brain Organoids.

The development of 3D-organoid models has revolutionized the way diseases are studied. Recently, our brain organoid model has been shown to recapitulate in in vitro the human brain cytoarchitecture originally encountered in HIV-1 neuropathogenesis, allowing downstream applications. Infected monocytes, macrophages, and microglia are critically important immune cells for infection and dissemination of HIV-1 throughout brain during acute and chronic phase of the disease. Once in the brain parenchyma, long-lived infected monocytes/macrophages along with resident microglia contribute to the establishment of CNS latency in people with HIV (PWH). Hence, it is important to better understand how HIV-1 enters and establishes infection and latency in CNS to further develop cure strategies. Here we detailed an accessible protocol to incorporate monocytes (infected and/or labeled) as a model of transmigration of peripheral monocytes into brain organoids that can be applied to characterize HIV-1 neuroinvasion and virus dissemination.

Neuroinflammation driven by human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) directs the expression of long noncoding RNA RP11-677M14.2 resulting in dysregulation of neurogranin in vivo and in vitro.

Neuroinflammation and synaptodendritic damage represent the pathological hallmarks of HIV-1 associated cognitive disorders (HAND). The post-synaptic protein neurogranin (Nrgn) is significantly reduced in the frontal cortex of postmortem brains from people with HIV (PWH) and it is associated with inflammatory factors released by infected microglia/macrophages. However, the mechanism involved in synaptic loss have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we characterized a newly identified long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcript (RP11-677M14.2), which is antisense to the NRGN locus and is highly expressed in the frontal cortex of HIV-1 individuals. Further analysis indicates an inverse correlation between the expression of RP11-677M14.2 RNA and Nrgn mRNA. Additionally, the Nrgn-lncRNA axis is dysregulated in neurons exposed to HIV-1 infected microglia conditioned medium enriched with IL-1ß. Moreover, in vitro overexpression of this lncRNA impacts Nrgn expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Finally, we modeled the Nrgn-lncRNA dysregulation within an HIV-1-induced inflammatory environment using brain organoids, thereby corroborating our in vivo and in vitro findings. Together, our study implicates a plausible role for lncRNA RP11-677M14.2 in modulating Nrgn expression that might serve as the mechanistic link between Nrgn loss and cognitive dysfunction in HAND, thus shedding new light on the mechanisms underlying synaptodendritic damage.

Neuroinflammation driven by Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) directs the expression of long noncoding RNA RP11-677M14.2 resulting in dysregulation of Neurogranin in vivo and in vitro.

Neuroinflammation and synaptodendritic damage represent the pathological hallmarks of HIV-1 associated cognitive disorders (HAND). The post-synaptic protein neurogranin (Nrgn) is significantly reduced in the frontal cortex of postmortem brains from people with HIV (PWH) and it is associated with inflammatory factors released by infected microglia/macrophages. However, the mechanism involved in synaptic loss have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we characterized a newly identified long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcript (RP11-677M14.2), which is antisense to the NRGN locus and is highly expressed in the frontal cortex of HIV-1 individuals. Further analysis indicates an inverse correlation between the expression of RP11-677M14.2 RNA and Nrgn mRNA. Additionally, the Nrgn-lncRNA axis is dysregulated in neurons exposed to HIV-1 infected microglia conditioned medium enriched with IL-1b. Moreover, in vitro overexpression of this lncRNA impact Nrgn expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Finally, we modeled the Nrgn-lncRNA dysregulation within an HIV-1-induced neuroinflammatory environment using brain organoids, thereby corroborating our in vivo and in vitro findings. Together, our study implicates a plausible role for lncRNA RP11-677M14.2 in modulating Nrgn expression that might serve as the mechanistic link between Nrgn loss and cognitive dysfunction in HAND, thus shedding new light on the mechanisms underlying synaptodendritic damage.

Prevalence of COVID-19-Related Social Disruptions and Effects on Psychosocial Health in a Mixed-Serostatus Cohort of Men and Women.

OBJECTIVES: This study describes prevention behavior and psychosocial health among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and HIV-negative people during the early wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States. We assessed differences by HIV status and associations between social disruption and psychosocial health. DESIGN: A cross-sectional telephone/videoconference administered survey of 3411 PLHIV and HIV-negative participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS). METHODS: An instrument combining new and validated measures was developed to assess COVID-19 prevention efforts, social disruptions (loss of employment, childcare, health insurance, and financial supports), experiences of abuse, and psychosocial health. Interviews were performed between April and June 2020. Associations between social disruptions and psychosocial health were explored using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographics and HIV status. RESULTS: Almost all (97.4%) participants reported COVID-19 prevention behavior; 40.1% participants reported social disruptions, and 34.3% reported health care appointment disruption. Men living with HIV were more likely than HIV-negative men to experience social disruptions (40.6% vs. 32.9%; P < 0.01), whereas HIV-negative women were more likely than women with HIV to experience social disruptions (51.1% vs. 39.8%, P < 0.001). Participants who experienced ≥2 social disruptions had significantly higher odds of depression symptoms [aOR = 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12 to 1.56], anxiety (aOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.17 to 2.27), and social support dissatisfaction (aOR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.26 to 2.60). CONCLUSIONS: This study builds on emerging literature demonstrating the psychosocial health impact related to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing context specific to PLHIV. The ongoing pandemic requires structural and social interventions to decrease social disruption and address psychosocial health needs among the most vulnerable populations.

Modeling HIV-1 neuropathogenesis using three-dimensional human brain organoids (hBORGs) with HIV-1 infected microglia.

HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is characterized by neuroinflammation and glial activation that, together with the release of viral proteins, trigger a pathogenic cascade resulting in synaptodendritic damage and neurodegeneration that lead to cognitive impairment. However, the molecular events underlying HIV neuropathogenesis remain elusive, mainly due to lack of brain-representative experimental systems to study HIV-CNS pathology. To fill this gap, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) human brain organoid (hBORG) model containing major cell types important for HIV-1 neuropathogenesis; neurons and astrocytes along with incorporation of HIV-infected microglia. Both infected and uninfected microglia infiltrated into hBORGs resulting in a triculture system (MG-hBORG) that mirrors the multicellular network observed in HIV-infected human brain. Moreover, the MG-hBORG model supported productive viral infection and exhibited increased inflammatory response by HIV-infected MG-hBORGs, releasing tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1ß) and thereby mimicking the chronic neuroinflammatory environment observed in HIV-infected individuals. This model offers great promise for basic understanding of how HIV-1 infection alters the CNS compartment and induces pathological changes, paving the way for discovery of biomarkers and new therapeutic targets.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-mediated neuroinflammation dysregulates neurogranin and induces synaptodendritic injury.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is a common outcome of a majority of HIV-1-infected subjects and is associated with synaptodendritic damage. Neurogranin (Ng), a postsynaptic protein, and calmodulin (CaM) are two important players of synaptic integrity/functions. The biological role of Ng in the context of HAND is unknown. METHODS: We compared the expression of Ng in frontal cortex (FC) tissues from control and HIV-1-positive subjects with and without HAND by immunohistochemistry, western blot, and qRT-PCR. The interaction between Ng and CaM was analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation. Ng, microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), CaM, CaM-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), CREB, synaptophysin (Syp), and synapsin I (Syn I) expressions were evaluated by western blot using FC tissue lysates and differentiated SH-SY5Y (dSH-SY5Y) cells. Identification of inflammatory factors related to Ng loss was accomplished by exposing dSH-SY5Y cells to HIV-1 and mock-infected monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) supernatants or HIV-1 NLYU2 pseudotyped with VSV-G-Env. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, MCP-2, and CXCL5 in MDM supernatants were measured by ELISA. Association of IL-1ß and IL-8 to Ng expression in context of HIV-1 infection was evaluated in the presence or absence of neutralizing antibodies against these cytokines. RESULTS: Expression level of Ng was reduced significantly in FC of HAND-positive (HAND+) patients compared to uninfected individuals. Although no difference was found in CaM expression, interaction between Ng and CaM was reduced in HAND+ patients, which was associated with decreased level of CaMKII, a downstream signaling molecule of CaM pathway. This in turn resulted in reduction of synaptic markers, Syp and Syn I. HIV-1 infection directly had no considerable effect on dysregulation of Ng expression in dSH-SY5Y cells, whereas high amount of pro-inflammatory IL-1ß and IL-8 in HIV-1-infected MDM supernatants was associated with significant reduction in Ng expression. CONCLUSIONS: Synaptic damage in HAND+ patients could be a result of abrogation of Ng through HIV-1-induced inflammation that dysregulates Ng-CaM interaction and downstream signaling cascades associated with synaptodendritic functions. This is the first study evaluating the potential role of Ng in the context of HIV-1 neuropathogenesis.

Metabolically active CD4+ T cells expressing Glut1 and OX40 preferentially harbor HIV during in vitro infection.

High glucose transporter 1 (Glut1) surface expression is associated with increased glycolytic activity in activated CD4+ T cells. Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) activation measured by p-Akt and OX40 is elevated in CD4+Glut1+ T cells from HIV+ subjects. TCR engagement of CD4+Glut1+ T cells from HIV+ subjects demonstrates hyperresponsive PI3K-mammalian target of rapamycin signaling. High basal Glut1 and OX40 on CD4+ T cells from combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-treated HIV+ patients represent a sufficiently metabolically active state permissive for HIV infection in vitro without external stimuli. The majority of CD4+OX40+ T cells express Glut1, thus OX40 rather than Glut1 itself may facilitate HIV infection. Furthermore, infection of CD4+ T cells is limited by p110γ PI3K inhibition. Modulating glucose metabolism may limit cellular activation and prevent residual HIV replication in 'virologically suppressed' cART-treated HIV+ persons.

The therapeutic potential of adenosine triphosphate as an immune modulator in the treatment of HIV/AIDS: a combination approach with HAART.

Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (eATP) is a potent molecule that has the capacity to modulate various aspects of cell functions including gene expression. This element of modulation is essential to the role of ATP as a therapeutic agent. The hypothesis presented is that ATP can have an important impact on the treatment of HIV infection. This is supported in part by published research, although a much greater role for ATP is suggested than prior authors ever thought possible. ATP has the ability to enhance the immune system and could thus improve the host's own defense mechanisms to eradicate the virus-infected cells and restore normal immune function. This could provide effective therapy when used in conjunction with highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) to eliminate the latently infected cells. The key lies in applying ATP through the methodology described. This article presents a strategy for using ATP therapeutically along with background evidence to substantiate the importance of using ATP in the treatment of HIV infection.