Single mutations in the transmembrane envelope protein abrogate the immunosuppressive property of HIV-1.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The mechanism by which HIV-1 induces AIDS is still unknown. Previously, synthetic peptides corresponding to the conserved immunosuppressive (isu) domain in gp41 of HIV-1 had been shown to inhibit proliferation and to modulate cytokine expression of immune cells. The question is, whether the viral gp41 can do the same.

Results

We show for the first time that two trimeric forms of glycosylated gp41 released from transfected human cells modulated expression of cytokines and other genes in human PBMCs in the same manner, but at least seven hundred-fold stronger compared to that induced by the isu peptide. Single amino acid substitutions in the isu domain of gp41 introduced by site-directed mutagenesis abrogated this property. Furthermore, replication-competent HIV-1 w

SUBMITTER: Morozov VA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3464125 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature