Extracellular vesicles from T cells overexpress miR-146b-5p in HIV-1 infection and repress endothelial activation

Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 16;9(1):10299. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44743-w.

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection promotes a generalized activation of host responses that involves not only CD4 T cells, but also cells of the microenvironment, which are not directly infected, such as endothelial cells. The mechanisms triggering HIV-1-associated vascular alterations remain poorly understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), implicated in cell-to-cell communication, have been recently described as carriers of microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we show that miR-146b-5p is upregulated in both CD4 T cells, CD4 T cell-derived EVs and circulating EVs obtained from antiretroviral therapy-naive HIV-1-infected patients. We further demonstrate that EVs from T cell line overexpressing miR-146b-5p mimics (miR-146b-EVs): 1) protect their miRNA cargo from RNase degradation, 2) transfer miR-146b-5p mimics into endothelial cells and 3) reduce endothelial inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo in the lungs of mice through the downregulation of nuclear factor-κB-responsive molecules. These data advance our understanding on chronic inflammatory responses affecting endothelial homeostasis, in infectious and non-infectious diseases and pave the way for potential new anti-inflammatory strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Line
  • Endothelial Cells / chemistry
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Extracellular Vesicles / genetics*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / genetics*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • MIRN146 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs