B-cell clonogenic activity of HIV-1 p17 variants is driven by PAR1-mediated EGF transactivation

Cancer Gene Ther. 2021 Jun;28(6):649-666. doi: 10.1038/s41417-020-00246-9. Epub 2020 Oct 22.

Abstract

Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) for HIV-1 dramatically slows disease progression among HIV+ individuals. Currently, lymphoma represents the main cause of death among HIV-1-infected patients. Detection of p17 variants (vp17s) endowed with B-cell clonogenic activity in HIV-1-seropositive patients with lymphoma suggests their possible role in lymphomagenesis. Here, we demonstrate that the clonogenic activity of vp17s is mediated by their binding to PAR1 and to PAR1-mediated EGFR transactivation through Gq protein. The entire vp17s-triggered clonogenic process is MMPs dependent. Moreover, phosphoproteomic and bioinformatic analysis highlighted the crucial role of EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway in modulating several molecules promoting cancer progression, including RAC1, ABL1, p53, CDK1, NPM, Rb, PTP-1B, and STAT1. Finally, we show that a peptide (F1) corresponding to the vp17s functional epitope is sufficient to trigger the PAR1/EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway and bind PAR1. Our findings suggest novel potential therapeutic targets to counteract vp17-driven lymphomagenesis in HIV+ patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / genetics
  • HIV Antigens / genetics*
  • HIV Infections / genetics
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics
  • Lymphoma / genetics*
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Lymphoma / virology
  • Oncogene Protein v-akt / genetics
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • Receptor, PAR-1 / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Transcriptional Activation / genetics
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics*

Substances

  • HIV Antigens
  • Receptor, PAR-1
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • p17 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Oncogene Protein v-akt