HIV-1 Tat-mediated induction of CCL5 in astrocytes involves NF-κB, AP-1, C/EBPα and C/EBPγ transcription factors and JAK, PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK signaling pathways

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 11; p. e78855
• Main Authors: Nookala, Anantha R, Shah, Ankit, Noel, Richard J, Kumar, Anil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 11.11.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: 1-Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; Activator protein 1; AIDS Dementia Complex - metabolism; AIDS Dementia Complex - pathology; AKT protein; Animals; Antiretroviral agents; Apoptosis; Astrocytes; Astrocytes - metabolism; Astrocytes - pathology; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins - genetics; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Chemokine CCL5 - genetics; Chemokine CCL5 - metabolism; Chemokines; Cytokines; Gene expression; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV; HIV-1 - genetics; HIV-1 - metabolism; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infections; Inhibitors; Isoforms; Janus kinase 2; Janus Kinases - genetics; Janus Kinases - metabolism; Kinases; Life expectancy; Life span; MAP kinase; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mice; Nervous system; Neurological diseases; Neurotoxicity; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - metabolism; NF-κB protein; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - genetics; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Pharmacology; Pharmacy; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - genetics; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - metabolism; Polymerase chain reaction; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - metabolism; Reduction; Rodents; Signaling; siRNA; tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus - genetics; tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus - metabolism; Tat protein; Toxicology; Transcription Factor AP-1 - genetics; Transcription Factor AP-1 - metabolism; Transcription factors; Transfection; Viral infections; Viruses; United States > US; Kansas City Missouri; Missouri
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078855

The incidence of HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND) has increased during recent years even though the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly curtailed the virus replication and increased the life expectancy among HIV-1 infected individuals. These neurological deficits have been attributed to HIV proteins including HIV-1 Tat. HIV-1 Tat is known to up-regulate CCL5 expression in mouse astrocytes, but the mechanism of up-regulation is not known. The present study was undertaken with the objective of determining the mechanism(s) underlying HIV-1 Tat-mediated expression of CCL5 in astrocytes. SVGA astrocytes were transiently transfected with a plasmid encoding Tat, and expression of CCL5 was studied at the mRNA and protein levels using real time RT-PCR and multiplex cytokine bead array, respectively. HIV-1 Tat showed a time-dependent increase in the CCL5 expression with peak mRNA and protein levels, observed at 1 h and 48 h post-transfection, respectively. In order to explore the mechanism(s), pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA against different pathway(s) were used. Pre-treatment with SC514 (NF-κB inhibitor), LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor), AG490 (JAK2 inhibitor) and Janex-1 (JAK3 inhibitor) showed partial reduction of the Tat-mediated induction of CCL5 suggesting involvement of JAK, PI3K/Akt and NF-κB in CCL5 expression. These results were further confirmed by knockdown of the respective genes using siRNA. Furthermore, p38 MAPK was found to be involved since the knockdown of p38δ but not other isoforms showed partial reduction in CCL5 induction. This was further confirmed at transcriptional level that AP-1, C/EBPα and C/EBPγ were involved in CCL5 up-regulation.