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Biomedical subjects

M Hayami

Publications and source records attributed to M Hayami.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Genetic subtypes of HIV type 1 in Republic of Congo.

To assess the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Republic of Congo (Congo), we investigated 29 HIV-1s obtained from 82 Congolese AIDS and ARC patients in 1996 and 1997. Part of the env region including the V3 loop was phylogenetically analyzed. The genotypes observed were varied: of 29 specimens, 12 (41 %) were subtype A, 1 (3%) was subtype D, 6 (21%) were subtype G, 6 (21%) were subtype H, 2 (7%) were subtype J, and 2 (7%) could not be classified as any known subtypes (U, unclassified). The heterogeneous profile of HIV-1 infection was different from the profiles of neighboring Central African countries. These data show that subtypes G and H as well as subtype A were circulating with high prevalence. The fact that new genetic subtypes (J and U) are circulating indicates a need for a greater surveillance for these subtypes both in Congo as well as in other parts of the world.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

Dox-dependent SIVmac with tetracycline-inducible promoter in the U3 promoter region.

An attenuated live vaccine is a candidate in developing vaccines against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The study using macaques and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac) showed an attenuated virus to be more effective than any other vaccine candidate. However, development of a safer vaccine is required for clinical application. In this study, we constructed pSIVmac Delta nef with tetracycline inducible promoter (pTet) and tried to control viral expression in a drug-dependent manner. Promoter/enhancer motifs in the U3 region of the long terminal repeats (LTRs) were serially deleted and replaced with pTet. In mutant LTRs, which lack NF-kappaB and Sp1 binding sites, TATA box motifs, and the 5' half of the U3 region, promoter activity was stringently controlled by doxycycline (Dox). Their activities were similar to or higher than that of wild-type LTR in the presence of Dox, based on the transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter assay. Three of these mutant LTRs were introduced into the pSIVmac239 Delta nef genome. Viral protein from these viruses was efficiently expressed in a Dox-dependent manner after transfection to a HeLa cell, which expresses reverse tetracycline transactivator (rtTA). The 2-LTR-form viral DNA of these viruses could be detected in M8166 cells that had been infected with supernatants from the transfected rtTA HeLa cell. These results suggest that pSIVmac Delta nef containing mutant LTRs can proceed through one viral replication cycle consisting of transcription, formation of viral particles, infection to cells, and reverse transcription. Although continuous replication of these Dox-dependent viruses requires a supply of rtTA as a constituent for the pTet-On viral genome, the successful replacement of the original promoter with a drug-dependent promoter suggests a new possibility for developing a safer attenuated live virus.

Doxycycline↗

Construction of an SIV/HIV type 1 chimeric virus with the human interleukin 6 gene and its production of interleukin 6 in monkey and human cells.

The switch from a Th1- to a Th2-type cytokine response is reported to be involved in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression. To study the effect of IL-6, one of the Th2-type cytokines, on AIDS pathogenesis, we constructed an SIV/HIV-1 chimeric virus (SHIV) having the human IL-6 gene (SHIV-IL6) SHIV-IL6 could replicate in M8166, a human T cell line, as well as in monkey and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Along with the SHIV-IL6 replication, IL-6 was detected in the culture supernatant by ELISA. The maximum level of IL-6 was 35, 15, and 8 ng/ml in M8166, human PBMCs, and monkey PBMCs, respectively. The expressed IL-6 was biologically active as shown by the proliferation of IL-6-dependent murine hybridoma (MH-60) cells. The inserted IL-6 gene was stable for at least four passages (45 days after the initial infection) in M8166 cells, suggesting the ability to achieve stable expression of IL-6 in long-term experiments. Therefore, we successfully established an SHIV system expressing IL-6, and this is the first report of an SHIV expressing a Th2-type cytokine. With this system, IL-6 should be expressed in the regions where the virus replicates, and therefore the inoculation of macaque monkeys with SHIV-IL6 is expected to provide further information on the etiology of AIDS.

Animals↗

Construction of chimeric simian and human immunodeficiency viruses that produce interleukin 12.

Chimeric simian and human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs) are useful for evaluating vaccine candidates against HIV-1 and for investigating the pathogenesis of HIV-1 in vivo. In addition, SHIVs are candidates for a vaccine against HIV-1 because attenuated SHIVs can induce long-lasting anti-HIV-1 Env humoral and cell-mediated immunity in monkeys without AIDS-like diseases. In this study, we inserted IL-12 genes in a nef-deleted SHIV to increase the ability of the SHIV to induce cell-mediated immunity against HIV-1. The SHIV vector was constructed by deleting the nef gene and replacing it with restriction enzyme sites. Since IL-12 consists of two subunit genes, p35 and p40, SHIVs with one or both of these genes were constructed. SHIVs with either one of the subunit genes could replicate without a deletion of the inserted gene, but SHIVs with two subunit genes replicated poorly and the inserted genes were rapidly deleted. Production of IL-12 was detected when both of the single-subunit SHIVs were coinfected. The production of IL-12 by the coinfection reached 800 pg/ml, and IL-12 was detected after serial passage in cell cultures, although this amount of IL-12 heterodimer was 150-1500 times less than that of the p40 subunits. These IL-12-producing SHIVs are candidates for a live-attenuated vaccine to induce effective cellular immunity against HIV-1.

Cell Line↗

Role of apoptosis induction in both peripheral lymph nodes and thymus in progressive loss of CD4+ cells in SHIV-infected macaques.

To investigate the role of apoptosis in the progressive loss of CD4+ lymphocytes in HIV infection, we have used macaques infected with SHIV, a hybrid virus of HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). In the present study, we sequentially analyzed apoptosis induction in the acute phase of SHIV infection. Four macaques infected with a pathogenic SHIV, SHIV89.6P, and four macaques infected with a nonpathogenic SHIV, NM-3rN, were analyzed during the first 2 or 4 weeks postinfection. In the 89.6P-infected macaques the number of peripheral CD4+ cells sharply decreased at 2 weeks postinfection and was maintained below 50/microl until 4 weeks postinfection, while in the NM-3rN-infected macques the number of the CD4+ cells did not change significantly. Plasma viral loads peaked at 2 and 2-3 weeks postinfection, and the peak values were about 1 x 10(9) and 10(6)-10(7) copies/ml in the 89.6P- and the NM-3rN-infected macaques, respectively. In the 89.6P-infected macaques, Fas antigen expression and the extent of apoptosis in PBMCs and peripheral lymph nodes increased at 1-2 weeks postinfection. A high number of apoptotic cells was also observed in thymus sections 2 and 4 weeks postinfection. On the other hand, apoptosis was scarcely induced in the NM-3rN-infected macaques. These results suggest that the extent of apoptosis induction is closely correlated with the pathogenicity of SHIV and that the apoptosis induction in peripheral lymphoid tissues and thymus, where T cell maturation occurs, may play an important role in the depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes in 89.6P infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Isolation and characterization of simian immunodeficiency virus variants that are resistant to nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) act quite specifically on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In general, they are not effective on human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Only SIV strains from African green monkeys are sensitive to several NNRTIs. Here we isolated NNRTI- and 3TC-resistant SIVagm variants. Viruses resistant to delavirdine contained V112I and M231I substitutions, while those resistant to 3TC contained a M 185I substitution. These amino acids are highly conserved in HIV-1, HIV-2, SIVmac and SIVagm, and the M184I (M185I in SIVagm) substitution was observed in 3TC-resistant HIV-1 and SIVmac. The roles of the observed mutations in NNRTI-resistance of SIVagm and HIV-1 were further confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. The present results have provided a new insight into the common mechanism of sensitivity of HIV- 1 and SIVagm to NNRTIs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Plasma levels of the chemokine RANTES in macaque monkeys infected with pathogenic and non-pathogenic SIV/HIV-1 chimeric viruses at an early stage of infection.

Plasma levels of the chemokine RANTES were examined in monkeys infected with either a pathogenic simian and human immunodeficiency chimeric virus (SHIV) or a non-pathogenic SHIV to determine whether RANTES levels were related to the pathogenicity of the virus, the plasma viral load, or the kinetics of CD4+ T-cells. In the results no significant correlation was found between the RANTES kinetics and changes in the CD4+ T-cell numbers nor the plasma viral loads in any of the monkeys, although a transient decrease of the RANTES level was observed in the pathogenic virus-infected monkeys. At least, the plasma RANTES level can not be used as an index of the pathogenicity of the virus at the early stage of infection.

Animals↗

Detection of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice and analysis of their target antigens.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) have been widely studied and recognized to be clinically very important for some human diseases including systemic rheumatic diseases. We analyzed ANCA response and their target antigens in MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL-lpr) mice, an animal model of systemic rheumatic disease. P-ANCA was detected in 57% of the mice. Antibodies to the known P-ANCA target antigens at the same age were examined. Among these, antibodies to high mobility group (HMG) proteins HMG1 and HMG2 were detected in 57% of the mice, 75% of which were also positive for P-ANCA. These anti-HMG1/HMG2 activities were absorbed by preincubation with a mixture of HMG1 and HMG2. In contrast, antibodies to myeloperoxidase and cathepsin G were detected in 14% and 7%, respectively, but these activities were not inhibited by preincubation with corresponding antigens. In addition, the titers of P-ANCA and anti-HMG1/HMG2 antibodies in MRL-lpr mice were significantly correlated with each other. Thus, HMG1 and HMG2 were considered to be significant target antigens of P-ANCA in MRL-lpr mice.

Animals↗

Protection of macaques against a SHIV with a homologous HIV-1 Env and a pathogenic SHIV-89.6P with a heterologous Env by vaccination with multiple gene-deleted SHIVs.

To evaluate the potential of SHIVs as anti-HIV-1 live vaccines, we constructed two gene-deleted SHIVs, designated SHIV-drn and SHIV-dxrn. The former lacks vpr/nef and the latter lacks vpx/vpr/nef. Four macaques that had been vaccinated with SHIV-drn were challenged with SHIV-NM-3rN, which has an HIV-1 Env that is the same as that of SHIV-drn. No challenge virus was detected by DNA PCR in, or recovered from, two of the macaques. In the other two, challenge virus was detected once and twice, respectively. Plasma viral loads were much lower than those in unvaccinated controls. Another four macaques were vaccinated with SHIV-dxrn. These macaques showed resistance but less than that of SHIV-drn-vaccinated macaques. When the two SHIV-drn-vaccinated macaques were challenged with pathogenic SHIV-89.6P, which has an HIV-1 Env that is antigenically different from that of SHIV-drn, replication of the challenge virus was restricted, and the usual decrease in the number of CD4(+) cells was prevented. In this protection, it is noteworthy that protection involved not only neutralizing antibodies and killer cell activity, but also other unknown specific and nonspecific immunity elicited by the infection.

AIDS Vaccines↗

Small amino acid changes in the V3 loop of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 determines the coreceptor usage for CXCR4 and CCR5.

HIV-2 GH-1 is a molecular clone derived from an AIDS patient from Ghana. In contrast to the prototypic molecular clone ROD, GH-1 exhibits a narrow range of target cell specificity. By an infectious assay using HeLa-CD4 cells stably transfected with an HIV-1 LTR-beta-galactosidase reporter gene and transiently expressing various cloned chemokine receptors, we have examined the coreceptor usage of GH-1. In contrast to ROD, which uses principally CXCR4, GH-1 was found to use mainly if not exclusively CCR5 but not CXCR4. The distinct coreceptor usage of these two molecular clones allowed us to further map the region of gp120 that is important for the coreceptor specificity. By constructing a series of chimeric viruses between GH-1 and ROD, we have demonstrated that the C-terminal half of the V3 loop region of gp120 determines the differential coreceptor usage between GH-1 and ROD, and only a few amino acid differences in this region appear to be able to shift the specificity between CCR5 and CXCR4. Notably, the shift in the coreceptor usage from CCR5 to CXCR4 is associated with an increase in the net positive charge in the V3 region.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Protective effects against simian immunodeficiency virus agm (SIVagm) infection in cynomolgus monkeys immunized with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the SIVagm envelope gene.

Protective immunity induced by a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the envelope (Env) protein of a simian immunodeficiency virus strain, SIVagm, (SEN-RVV), was evaluated in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Three monkeys were immunized twice with SEN-RVV and boostered with the purified SIVagm Env protein. These monkeys developed high titers of anti-SIVagm Env antibody, especially after boostering. After challenge with polyclonal SIVagm, no virus was recovered from two of the monkeys and no provirus DNA was detected in one of these two. After autopsy, however, proviral DNA was detected in the spleen of this monkey. These results suggest that this immunization regimen could not completely protect the monkeys from SIV infection but that it did reduce the replicability of the challenged virus.

Animals↗

Characteristic distribution of HTLV type I and HTLV type II carriers among native ethnic groups in South America.

To confirm the geographic and ethnic segregation of HTLV-I and HTLV-II carriers in native populations in South America, we have conducted a seroepidemiological study of native populations in South America, including HTLV-I carriers distributed among seven ethnic groups in the Andes highlands of Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile, and two ethnic groups on Chiloe Island and Easter Island; and HTLV-II carriers distributed among seven ethnic groups of the lowlands along the Atlantic coast of Colombia, Orinoco, Amazon, and Patagonia, and one ethnic group on Chiloe Island. The incidence rate of HTLV-I and HTLV-II carriers varied among the ethnic groups, ranging from 0.8 to 6.8% for HTLV-I seropositivity and from 1.4 to 57.9% for HTLV-II seropositivity. A new HTLV-I focus was found among the Peruvian Aymara (1.6%), the Bolivian Aymara (5.3%) and Quechua (4.5%), the Argentine Puna (2.3%), and the Chilean Atacama (4.1%), while on HTLV-II focus was found among the Brazilian Kayapo (57.9%), the Paraguayan Chaco (16.4%), and the Chilean Alacalf (34.8%) and Yahgan (9.1%). The distribution of HTLV-I/II foci showed a geographic clustering of HTLV-I foci in the Andes highlands and of HTLV-II foci in the lowlands of South America. It was thus suggested that South American natives might be divided into two major ethnic groups by HTLV-I and HTLV-II carrier state.

Adolescent↗

Molecular epidemiology of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1) Brazil: the predominant HTLV-1s in South America differ from HTLV-ls of Japan and Africa, as well as those of Japanese immigrants and their relatives in Brazil.

To better understand the origin of human T-cell leukemia virus type l (HTLV-l) in South America, we conducted a phylogenetic study on 27 new HTLV-ls in Brazil. These were obtained from Brazilians of various ethnic origins, such as Japanese immigrants, whites, blacks and mulattos. We amplified and sequenced proviral DNAs of a part of the long terminal repeats. Phylogenetic trees revealed that all but 6 of the new isolates were not only similar to each other but also similar to HTLV-ls of other South American countries, including those from Amerindians. However, the isolates differed from the HTLV-ls of Africa and Japan. The other six isolates were from Japanese immigrants and were phylogenetically almost identical to HTLV-ls in Japan but different from the majority of South American HTLV-ls, including the other new Brazilian HTLV-ls. These findings indicate that the recent introduction of HTLV-1 from Japan is limited to Japanese immigrants. In addition, the results do not support the prevailing hypothesis that HTLV-ls in South America were introduced by blacks who were brought from Africa as slaves. Rather, these results suggest that the majority of HTLV-1s prevailing in South America have spread from Amerindians, some of whom are likely to have possessed this human retrovirus from the beginning of their settlement in South America.

Adult↗

Acarbose-induced generalised erythema multiforme.

A 58-year-old man with diabetes mellitus was treated with acarbose 300 mg daily. 13 days after the start of treatment with acarbose, generalised erythema multiforme developed with blood eosinophilia. Tissue eosinophilia was also found histologically. A challenge test for acarbose confirmed allergic reaction clinically and histologically.

Acarbose↗

HIV type 1 genetic variability in the northern part of Cameroon.

In 1995, 53 blood samples from Muslim patients with AIDS, or who were thought to have AIDS, were collected in the main hospitals of Adamaoua Province, in the northern part of Cameroon. The variable env C2V3 region of HIV-1 was amplified by nested PCR and phylogenetically analyzed. The results indicated that of 15 amplified samples, 1 belonged to HIV-1 group O, 1 to HIV-1 subtype D, 1 to subtype G, 2 to subtype H, and 10 to subtype A. Furthermore, the northern Cameroonian subtype A could be divided into at least two subclusters as shown by the env tree as well as by two remarkably conserved hexameric amino acid sequences in the apex of V3 (GPGQAF in one subcluster and GPGQTF in the other). This distinction suggests that the HIV-1 subtype A circulating in northern Cameroon evolved from two main sources. More recently, three HIV-1 strains from Nigeria (IBNG) and Djibouti (DJ263 and DJ264), previously reported on the basis of their env C2V3 sequences as subtype A, were found to have a similar A/G mosaic structure alongside their full-length sequence and were tentatively designated as members of a new subtype called "IBNG." Interestingly, within the northern Cameroonian subtype A described, the isolates of the second subcluster clustered distinctly with these A/G mosaic strains, strongly suggesting that they may be members of the IBNG subtype.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequential analysis of apoptosis induction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and lymph nodes in the early phase of pathogenic and nonpathogenic SIVmac infection.

To investigate the role of apoptosis in the early phase of HIV infection, we used macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus strain mac (SIVmac) as a primate model and examined sequentially the characteristics of apoptosis of lymphocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymph nodes in the early phase of SIVmac infection. Five macaques infected with a pathogenic strain of SIV, SIVmac239, were analyzed during the first 4 weeks after infection. Peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ cells transiently decreased at 1 week postinfection. The percentage of apoptotic cells in cultured PBMCs increased from about 2 weeks postinfection. The number of apoptotic cells in lymph node sections was higher on days 13 and 28 postinfection than before infection and on day 5 postinfection. Fas antigen expression on peripheral lymphocytes was upregulated from day 8 postinfection. These results indicate that apoptosis is induced about 2 weeks after SIVmac239 infection, following the upregulation of Fas antigen expression on lymphocytes. Since apoptosis was induced about 1 week after the decrease in peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts, it appears that the apoptosis induction does not play an important role in the transient lymphopenia in the early phase of SIVmac infection. In macaques infected with a nonpathogenic derivative of SIVmac239, SIVmac delta nef, apoptosis of lymphocytes was induced as it was in SIVmac239-infected macaques, but to a lesser degree, suggesting a correlation between the extent of apoptosis induction in lymphocytes in the early phase of SIVmac infection and the pathogenicity of SIVmac.

Animals↗