Mesenchymal stem cells are attracted to latent HIV-1-infected cells and enable virus reactivation via a non-canonical PI3K-NFκB signaling pathway

Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 2;8(1):14702. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-32657-y.

Abstract

Persistence of latent HIV-1 in macrophages (MACs) and T-helper lymphocytes (THLs) remain a major therapeutic challenge. Currently available latency reversing agents (LRAs) are not very effective in vivo. Therefore, understanding of physiologic mechanisms that dictate HIV-1 latency/reactivation in reservoirs is clearly needed. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) regulate the function of immune cells; however, their role in regulating virus production from latently-infected MACs & THLs is not known. We documented that exposure to MSCs or their conditioned media (MSC-CM) rapidly increased HIV-1 p24 production from the latently-infected U1 (MAC) & ACH2 (THL) cell lines. Exposure to MSCs also increased HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) directed gene expression in the MAC and THL reporter lines, U937-VRX and J-Lat (9.2), respectively. MSCs exposed to CM from U1 cells (U1-CM) showed enhanced migratory ability towards latently-infected cells and retained their latency-reactivation potential. Molecular studies showed that MSC-mediated latency-reactivation was dependent upon both the phosphatidyl inositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) signaling pathways. The pre-clinically tested inhibitors of PI3K (PX-866) and NFκB (CDDO-Me) suppressed MSC-mediated HIV-1 reactivation. Furthermore, coexposure to MSC-CM enhanced the latency-reactivation efficacy of the approved LRAs, vorinostat and panobinostat. Our findings on MSC-mediated latency-reactivation may provide novel strategies against persistent HIV-1 reservoirs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / drug effects
  • Gonanes / pharmacology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV Long Terminal Repeat / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oleanolic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Oleanolic Acid / pharmacology
  • Panobinostat / pharmacology
  • Panobinostat / therapeutic use
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Virus Activation / drug effects*
  • Virus Latency / drug effects
  • Vorinostat / pharmacology
  • Vorinostat / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Gonanes
  • NF-kappa B
  • PX-866
  • Vorinostat
  • Oleanolic Acid
  • Panobinostat
  • bardoxolone methyl