Stacey R. Vlahakis

G Protein-Coupled Chemokine Receptors Induce Both Survival and Apoptotic Signaling Pathways

Chemokine receptors are essential for triggering chemotaxis to immune cells; however, a number of them can also mediate death when engaged by nonchemokine ligands. When the chemokine receptor CXCR4 is engaged by stromal cell-derived factor (SDF1)α, it triggers cells to chemotax, and in some cell types such as neurons, causes cell death. To elucidate this dual and opposing receptor function, we have investigated whether CXCR4 activation by its chemokine SDF1α could lead to the simultaneous activation of both anti- and proapoptotic signaling pathways; the balance ultimately influencing cell survival. CXCR4 activation in CD4 T cells by SDF1α led to the activation of the prosurvival second messengers, Akt and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase. Selective inhibition of each signal demonstrated that extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase is essential for mediating SDF1α-triggered chemotaxis but does not confer an antiapoptotic state. In contrast, Akt activation through CXCR4 by SDF1α interactions is necessary to confer resistance to apoptosis. The proapoptotic signaling pathway triggered by SDF1α-CXCR4 interaction involves the Giα protein-independent activation of the proapoptotic MAPK (p38). Furthermore, other chemokines and chemokine receptors also signal chemotaxis and proapoptotic effects via similar pathways. Thus, Giα protein-coupled chemokine receptors can function as death prone receptors and the balance between the above signaling pathways will ultimately mandate the fate of the activated cell.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Induced Apoptosis of Human Hepatocytes via CXCR4

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is commonly associated with liver dysfunction. The X4 HIV glycoprotein 120 envelope (env) induces apoptosis in T cells and neurons via the HIV coreceptor CXCR4. Therefore, we investigated whether hepatocyte death could result from the HIV env signaling through CXCR4 on the hepatocyte. We demonstrated that hepatocytes in humans express CXCR4 on the cell surface. Furthermore, we established that the X4 HIV env and the entire HIV virion signal hepatocyte apoptosis through CXCR4. The apoptotic process is dependent on G(ialpha) protein signaling, yet it is independent of caspase cascade activation. Thus, HIV can directly cause hepatocyte death in humans by signaling through CXCR4, without infecting the cell.

Chemokine-receptor activation by env determines the mechanism of death in HIV-infected and uninfected T lymphocytes

There is considerable confusion concerning the mechanism of lymphocyte death during HIV infection. During the course of HIV infection, M-tropic viruses (R5) that use CCR5 chemokine coreceptors frequently evolve to T-tropic viruses (X4) that use CXCR4 receptors. In this study we show that activation of the CD4 or CCR5 receptor by R5 HIVenv causes a caspase 8-dependent death of both uninfected and infected CD4 T cells. In contrast, CXCR4 activation by X4 HIVenv induces a caspase-independent death of both uninfected CD4 and CD8 T cells and infected CD4 cells. These results suggest that activation of the chemokine receptor by HIVenv determines the mechanism of death for both infected and uninfected T lymphocytes.

CCR5 mediates Fas- and caspase-8 dependent apoptosis of both uninfected and HIV infected primary human CD4 T cells.

DesignHIV Env interaction with the corresponding chemokine receptor dictates the molecular mechanism of death of both HIV-infected and uninfected primary CD4 T cells. CXCR4/T tropic HIV virus (X4) triggers CD4 T cell death through a caspase independent mechanism , whereas CCR5/M tropic HIV virus (R5) HIV triggers a caspase dependent death. In the present study, we have investigated the pathway whereby R5 Env–CR5 interactions lead to a caspase dependent cell death. MethodsCD4 T cells were infected with X4 or R5 HIV strains, or were mock infected. After infection, cells were treated with caspase inhibitors or decoys of death receptor signaling pathways and cell viability was analyzed. The role of R5 HIV Env in induction of cell death of uninfected T cells was analyzed by co-culturing uninfected CD4 T cells with R5 Env expressing cells in the absence or presence of various inhibitors of death receptor signaling. ResultsInfection of CD4 T cells with R5, but not with X4 HIV strains results in the activation of caspase-8 and cell death that is reversed by a decoy of the Fas receptor. Isolated activation of CCR5 by membrane-bound, or soluble R5 Env causes a Fas- and caspase-8 dependent death also of uninfected CD4 T cells. Additional studies demonstrate that isolated CCR5 activation by R5 Env leads to both de novo expression of FasL and induction of susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis in resting primary CD4 T cells. ConclusionsThese results ascribe to CCR5 a novel role in activating the Fas pathway and caspase-8 as well as triggering FasL production when activated by R5 Env, ultimately causing CD4 T cell death.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Protease Cleaves Procaspase 8 In Vivo

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection causes apoptosis of infected CD4 T cells as well as uninfected (bystander) CD4 and CD8 T cells. It remains unknown what signals cause infected cells to die. We demonstrate that HIV-1 protease specifically cleaves procaspase 8 to create a novel fragment termed casp8p41, which independently induces apoptosis. casp8p41 is specific to HIV-1 protease-induced death but not other caspase 8-dependent death stimuli. In HIV-1-infected patients, casp8p41 is detected only in CD4+ T cells, predominantly in the CD27+ memory subset, its presence increases with increasing viral load, and it colocalizes with both infected and apoptotic cells. These data indicate that casp8p41 independently induces apoptosis and is a specific product of HIV-1 protease which may contribute to death of HIV-1-infected cells.

Glycoprotein 120 Binding to CXCR4 Causes p38-Dependent Primary T Cell Death That Is Facilitated by, but Does Not Require Cell-Associated CD4

HIV-1 infection causes the depletion of host CD4 T cells through direct and indirect (bystander) mechanisms. Although HIV Env has been implicated in apoptosis of uninfected CD4 T cells via gp120 binding to either CD4 and/or the chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), conflicting data exist concerning the molecular mechanisms involved. Using primary human CD4 T cells, we demonstrate that gp120 binding to CD4 T cells activates proapoptotic p38, but does not activate antiapoptotic Akt. Because ligation of the CD4 receptor alone or the CXCR4 receptor alone causes p38 activation and apoptosis, we used the soluble inhibitors, soluble CD4 (sCD4) or AMD3100, to delineate the role of CD4 and CXCR4 receptors, respectively, in gp120-induced p38 activation and death. sCD4 alone augments gp120-induced death, suggesting that CXCR4 signaling is principally responsible. Supporting that model, AMD3100 reduces death caused by gp120 or by gp120/sCD4. Finally, prevention of gp120-CXCR4 interaction with 12G5 Abs blocks p38 activation and apoptosis, whereas inhibition of CD4-gp120 interaction with Leu-3a has no effect. Consequently, we conclude that gp120 interaction with CXCR4 is required for gp120 apoptotic effects in primary human T cells.

HIV protease inhibitors modulate apoptosis signaling in vitro and in vivo

HIV protease inhibitors are an integral part of effective anti-HIV therapy. The drugs block HIV protease, prevent proper packaging of HIV virions, and decrease the HIV viral burden in the peripheral blood of infected individuals. In addition to direct anti-viral effects, the HIV protease inhibitors also modulate apoptosis. A growing body of work demonstrates the anti-apoptotic effects of HIV protease inhibitors on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during HIV infection. The mechanism of this apoptosis inhibition is supported by several proposed hypotheses for how they alter the fate of the cell, including preventing adenine nucleotide translocator pore function, which consequently prevents loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. More recently, the anti-apoptotic effects of the HIV protease inhibitors have been tested in non-HIV, non-immune cell, whereby protease inhibitors prevent apoptosis, and disease in animal models of sepsis, hepatitis, pancreatitis and stroke. Interestingly, when HIV protease inhibitors are used at supra-therapeutic concentrations, they exert pro-apoptotic effects. This has been demonstrated in a number of tumor models. Although it is unclear how HIV protease inhibitors can induce apoptosis at increased concentrations, future research will define the targets of the immunomodulation and reveal the full clinical potential of this intriguing class of drugs.

Flying in the Face of Resistance: Antiviral-independent Benefit of HIV Protease Inhibitors on T-cell Survival

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection results in excessive apoptosis of infected and uninfected cells, mediated by host and viral factors present in plasma. As HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) have intrinsic antiapoptotic properties, we questioned whether HIV PIs could block HIV‐induced CD4+ T‐cell death independent of their effects on HIV replication. We demonstrate that HIV PIs block the death of CD4+ T cells induced by HIV glycoprotein 120 (gp120), Vpr, and Tat, as well as host signals Fas ligand, tumor necrosis factor, and tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand. Using gp120/CXCR4 as a model, we show that the HIV PIs specifically block mitochondrial apoptosis signaling. Furthermore, HIV PIs inhibit CD4+ T‐cell death induced by viruses with high‐level resistance to PIs (P<0.01) and apoptosis induced by serum of HIV patients with known resistance to HIV PIs (P=0.01). Together, these results show that HIV PIs block CD4+ T‐cell death and have a beneficial effect on CD4+ T‐cell survival despite PI resistance.

Influence of proteasome inhibitors on apoptosis.

Purpose of reviewProteasome inhibitors are a novel class of drugs that alter normal cellular control of apoptosis. As such, they are being investigated as novel therapies to alter uncontrolled cellular proliferation and treat cancers. This review explores new information about how the proteasome regulates apoptosis and how proteasome inhibitors can be exploited as anti-tumor drugs. Recent findingsProteasome inhibitors block the activation of nuclear factor kappa B in a number of cell systems, as well as altering apoptotic regulatory proteins and intracellular signals that influence the fate of the cell. These effects are true for many tumor cell lines. The US Food and Drug Administration-approved proteasome inhibitor bortezomib blocks erroneous cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in many tumor models. SummaryProteasome inhibitors have demonstrated promise in vitro, and as a result clinical trials have begun to investigate these agents as therapy for numerous human cancers. Furthermore, newer agents are being designed to inhibit the proteasome system and exert further anti-tumor activity.