Tubular-specific expression of HIV protein Vpr leads to severe tubulointerstitial damage accompanied by progressive fibrosis and cystic development.

ABSTRACT: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common cause of morbidity in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals. HIV infection leads to a wide spectrum of kidney cell damage, including tubular epithelial cell (TEC) injury. Among the HIV-1 proteins, the pathologic effects of viral protein R (Vpr) are well established and include DNA damage response, cell cycle arrest, and cell death. Several in vitro studies have unraveled the molecular pathways driving the cytopathic effects of Vpr in tubular epithelial cells. However, the in vivo effects of Vpr on tubular injury and CKD pathogenesis have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we use a novel inducible tubular epithelial cell-specific Vpr transgenic mouse model to show that Vpr expression leads to progressive tubulointerstitial dama

SUBMITTER: Chen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9974916 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature