HIV-1 proteins gp120 and tat induce the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral and genital mucosal epithelial cells.

ABSTRACT: The oral, cervical, and genital mucosa, covered by stratified squamous epithelia with polarized organization and strong tight and adherens junctions, play a critical role in preventing transmission of viral pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV-1 interaction with mucosal epithelial cells may depolarize epithelia and disrupt their tight and adherens junctions; however, the molecular mechanism of HIV-induced epithelial disruption has not been completely understood. We showed that prolonged interaction of cell-free HIV-1 virions, and viral envelope and transactivator proteins gp120 and tat, respectively, with tonsil, cervical, and foreskin epithelial cells induces an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is an epigenetic process leading to the disruption of mucos

SUBMITTER: Lien K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6927651 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature