The expression of HIV-1 Vpu in monocytes causes increased secretion of TGF-β that activates profibrogenic genes in hepatic stellate cells.

ABSTRACT: There is faster progression to fibrosis in persons with liver injury who are also infected with HIV. Other reports have suggested that HIV can directly infect and activate stellate cells, and the viral Tat and gp160 proteins also induce profibrogenic factors from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We tested the role of HIV-1 Vpu accessory protein in promoting profibrogenic activation of hepatic stellate cells. Human stellate LX2 cells were cocultured with human monocytic U937 cells stably expressing the Vpu protein or latently infected U1 cells knocked down for Vpu expression, LX2 cells were also cultured with the supernatants from these cells. The expression of profibrogenic markers was evaluated in LX2 cells usingquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-

SUBMITTER: Patel P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3923874 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature