DEC-205-mediated internalization of HIV-1 results in the establishment of silent infection in renal tubular cells.

HIV-1 infection of renal cells has been proposed to play a role in HIV-1-associated nephropathy. Renal biopsy data further suggest that renal tubular cells may serve as reservoir for HIV-1. The mechanism by which HIV-1 enters these cells has not been identified. Renal tubular cells do not express any of the known HIV-1 receptors, and our results confirmed lack of the expression of CD4, CCR5, CXCR4, DC-SIGN, or mannose receptors in tubular cells. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the mechanism that enables viral entry into renal tubular cells. An in vitro model was used to study the HIV-1 infection of human kidney tubular (HK2) cells and to identify the receptor that enables the virus to enter these cells. Results of these studies demonstrate that the C-type lectin DEC-205 acts as an HIV-1 receptor in HK2 cells. Interaction of HIV-1 with DEC-205 results in the internalization of the virus and establishment of a nonproductive infection. HIV-1-specific strong-stop DNA is detected in the infected HK2 cells for at least 7 d, and the virus can be transmitted in trans to sensitive target cells. HIV-1 entry is blocked by pretreatment with specific anti-DEC-205 antibody. Moreover, expression of DEC-205 in cells that lack the DEC-205 receptors renders them susceptible to HIV-1 infection. These findings suggest that DEC-205 acts as an HIV-1 receptor that mediates internalization of the virus into renal tubular cells, from which the virus can be rescued and disseminated by encountering immune cells.

The growth factor independence-1 transcription factor: new functions and new insights.

The growth factor independence-1 (Gfi1) transcription factor is required for proper development of neuroendocrine cells, sensory neurons, and blood. Patients with mutations in Gfi1 exhibit severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) or non-immune chronic idiopathic neutropenia of adults. Gfi1 was initially described as an oncoprotein that mediates tumor progression in a mouse model of leukemia; however, recent data suggest that Gfi1 may act as either an oncogene or an anti-proliferative tumor suppressor gene depending on the cell type. Here we review the latest literature on Gfi1, and emphasize its role in the hematopoietic, sensory and neuroendocrine systems.

The stress kinase MRK contributes to regulation of DNA damage checkpoints through a p38gamma-independent pathway.

DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation (IR) activates a complex cellular response that includes checkpoints leading to cell cycle arrest. The stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38gamma has been implicated in the G(2) phase checkpoint induced by IR. We recently discovered MRK as a member of the MAPK kinase kinase family that activates p38gamma. Here we investigated the role of MRK in the checkpoint response to IR. We identified autophosphorylation sites on MRK that are important for its kinase activity. A phosphospecific antibody that recognizes these sites showed that MRK is activated upon IR in a rapid and sustained manner. MRK depletion by RNA interference resulted in defective S and G(2) checkpoints induced by IR that were accompanied by reduced Chk2 phosphorylation and delayed Cdc25A degradation. We also showed that Chk2 is a substrate for MRK in vitro and is phosphorylated at Thr(68) by active MRK in cells. MRK depletion also increased sensitivity to the killing effects of IR. In addition, MRK depletion reduced IR-induced activation of p38gamma but had no effect on p38alpha activation, indicating that MRK is a specific activator of p38gamma after IR. Inhibition of p38gamma by RNA interference, however, did not impair IR-induced checkpoints. Thus, in response to IR MRK controls two independent pathways: the Chk2-Cdc25A pathway leading to cell cycle arrest and the p38gamma MAPK pathway.

Macrophages and lymphocytes differentially modulate the ability of RANTES to inhibit HIV-1 infection.

The beta-chemokines MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and RANTES inhibit HIV-1 infection of CD4+ T cells by inhibiting interactions between the virus and CCR5 receptors. However, while beta-chemokine-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 infection of primary lymphocytes is well documented, conflicting results have been obtained using primary macrophages as the virus target. Here, we show that the beta-chemokine RANTES inhibits virus entry into both cellular targets of the virus, lymphocytes and macrophages. However, while virus entry is inhibited at the moment of infection in both cell types, the amount of virus progeny is lowered only in lymphocytes. In macrophages, early-entry restriction is lost during long-term cultivation, and the amount of virus produced by RANTES-treated macrophages is similar to the untreated cultures, suggesting an enhanced virus replication. We further show that at least two distinct cellular responses to RANTES treatment in primary lymphocytes and macrophages contribute to this phenomenon. In lymphocytes, exposure to RANTES significantly increases the pool of inhibitory beta-chemokines through intracellular signals that result in increased production of MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta, thereby amplifying the antiviral effects of RANTES. In macrophages this amplification step does not occur. In fact, RANTES added to the macrophages is efficiently cleared from the culture, without inducing synthesis of beta-chemokines. Our results demonstrate dichotomous effects of RANTES on HIV-1 entry at the moment of infection, and on production and spread of virus progeny in primary macrophages. Since macrophages serve as a reservoir of HIV-1, this may contribute to the failure of endogenous chemokines to successfully eradicate the virus.

Sequence analysis of the mouse IRBP gene and cDNA.

PURPOSE: To understand the structure of the mouse interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) gene and to compare the predicted primary structure within each repeat of IRBP with its relatives. To compare the levels of expression of IRBP RNA in normal and knockout mice. METHODS: The DNA sequence was determined by sub-cloning restriction fragments of the IRBP gene from 129/Sv P1 clones. Primers were designed to utilize the walking approach. Additional sequences were obtained by PCR amplification from genomic DNA and direct sequencing of products. Mouse retina RNA was subjected to reverse transcription coupled to PCR and the accumulation of double stranded DNA product was monitored with SYBR Green. The PCR primers flanked Intron C, to avoid the analysis of contaminating genomic DNA. RESULTS: Altogether a contig was assembled with a final length of about 14.4 kb. The mouse gene structure is similar to the pattern of exons and introns in the bovine and human genes, with a long first exon encoding most of the protein. The splice site boundaries closely match consensus sequences and the exons appear to be identically placed among the three species (bovine, human, and mouse). A region containing a repeated sequence of low complexity is located about 1.75 to 1.4 kb upstream of the transcription start site. A second region containing another low complexity repeat is found in Intron C close to the end of Exon 3. A limited number of weak consensus polyadenylation signals in the 3' region suggest at least three different transcription terminators that apparently give rise to the previously known mouse IRBP mRNAs. The mRNA for IRBP was detected in normal and part of the mRNA was detected in the IRBP knockout mouse, consistent with previous observations. The level of the IRBP mRNA remnant was reduced about 10 fold in the knockout mouse, also consistent with the previously reported absence of Repeat 4 immunoreactivity. CONCLUSIONS: The strong conservation in intron-exon positions, gene structure, and protein sequence among mammals supports an important biological role for these signals and for the IRBP protein in vision. Low levels of aberrant IRBP mRNA in the knockout mouse are consistent with no immunologically detectable Repeat 4 protein in this mouse.

MRK, a mixed lineage kinase-related molecule that plays a role in gamma-radiation-induced cell cycle arrest.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways are three-kinase modules that mediate diverse cellular processes and have been highly conserved among eukaryotes. By using a functional complementation screen in yeast, we have identified a human MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) that shares homology with members of the mixed lineage kinase (MLK) family and therefore was called MRK (MLK-related kinase). We report the structure of the MRK gene, from which are generated two splice forms of MRK, MRK-alpha and MRK-beta, encoding for proteins of 800 and 456 amino acids, respectively. By using a combination of solid phase protein kinase assays, transient transfections in cells, and analysis of endogenous proteins in stably transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, we found that MRK-beta preferentially activates ERK6/p38gamma via MKK3/MKK6 and JNK through MKK4/MKK7. We also show that expression of wild type MRK increases the cell population in the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle, whereas dominant negative MRK attenuates the G(2) arrest caused by gamma-radiation. In addition, exposure of cells to gamma-radiation induces MRK activity. These data suggest that MRK may mediate gamma-radiation signaling leading to cell cycle arrest and that MRK activity is necessary for the cell cycle checkpoint regulation in cells.