HIV-1 infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells modulate the fibrogenic activity of hepatic stellate cells through secreted TGF-β and JNK signaling.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Patients with liver disease infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exhibit accelerated progression of hepatic fibrosis and liver cirrhosis compared to uninfected individuals. We studied the effects of soluble factors secreted by HIV-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which are central mediators of liver fibrosis.

Methods

An in vitro model was used in which a HSC line, LX2, was treated with culture supernatants of human PBMCs infected with macrophage tropic (R5) or T cell tropic (X4) strains of HIV-1. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were used to assess the expression of fibrogenic and proinflammatory markers; LX2 proliferation and intracellular signaling

SUBMITTER: Gupta D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3956633 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature