Reactivation of latent HIV-1 in vitro using an ethanolic extract from Euphorbia umbellata (Euphorbiaceae) latex

PLoS One. 2018 Nov 27;13(11):e0207664. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207664. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Euphorbia umbellata (E. umbellata) belongs to Euphorbiaceae family, popularly known as Janauba, and its latex contains a combination of phorbol esters with biological activities described to different cellular protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. Here, we identified deoxi-phorbol esters present in E. umbellata latex alcoholic extract that are able to increase HIV transcription and reactivate virus from latency models. This activity is probably mediated by NF-kB activation followed by nuclear translocation and binding to the HIV LTR promoter. In addition, E. umbellata latex extract induced the production of pro inflammatory cytokines in vitro in human PBMC cultures. This latex extract also activates latent virus in human PBMCs isolated from HIV positive patients as well as latent SIV in non-human primate primary CD4+ T lymphocytes. Together, these results indicate that the phorbol esters present in E. umbellata latex are promising candidate compounds for future clinical trials for shock and kill therapies to promote HIV cure and eradication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Ethanol / chemistry
  • Euphorbia / chemistry*
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Latex / chemistry*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Phorbol Esters / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Virus Activation / drug effects*
  • Virus Latency / drug effects
  • Virus Latency / physiology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Latex
  • Phorbol Esters
  • Plant Extracts
  • Ethanol

Grants and funding

Postdoc fellowships and PhD stipends were supported by CNPq and CAPES during this work. Research and experimental expenses were funded by the grant E26/2015064289 from FAPERJ.