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N Yahi

Publications and source records attributed to N Yahi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Comparison of viral burden and phenotype of HIV-1 isolates from lymph nodes and blood.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the viral burden and the biological phenotype of HIV-1 isolates obtained from lymphoid node mononuclear cells (LNMC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 11 HIV-infected patients. METHODS: Viral burden was quantified by cocultivating LNMC and PBMC from HIV-infected patients with PBMC from seronegative donors. For each patient, LNMC and PBMC isolates were characterized in terms of susceptibility to neutralizing antibodies, syncytium-inducing capacity and sensitivity to zidovudine. RESULTS: Our data show that: (1) viral burden was 1.73 log higher in LNMC than PBMC in patients with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy and only 0.37 log higher in patients with AIDS-related complex; (2) five out of 11 LNMC bulk isolates were phenotypically distinct from autologous PBMC isolates; (3) in three patients, the autologous serum neutralized the PBMC isolates but not the LNMC isolates. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the relatively high level of HIV-1 replication in lymph nodes may favour the emergence of viruses exhibiting specific phenotypes, including neutralization escape variants. The existence of viral variants in lymphoid tissue at all stages of HIV infection may elucidate certain aspects of the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Multibranched V3 peptides inhibit human immunodeficiency virus infection in human lymphocytes and macrophages.

Synthetic polymeric constructions (SPCs) including the consensus sequence of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) surface envelope glycoprotein gp120 V3 loop (GPGRAF) blocked the fusion between HIV-1- and HIV-2-infected cells and CD4+ uninfected cells. A structure-activity relationship study using V3 SPC analogs showed that the most efficient inhibitor of cell fusion was an eight-branched SPC with the hexapeptide motif GPGRAF (i.e., [GPGRAF]8-SPC). N-terminal acetylation or incorporation of D-amino acids in the GPGRAF sequence of this SPC resulted in significant loss of activity. Analogs with fewer than six residues in the motif (i.e., GPGRA or GPGR), as well as SPCs with a nonrelevant sequence, did not inhibit cell fusion, demonstrating the high specificity of the antifusion activity. [GPGRAF]8-SPC, which was not toxic to CEM cells at concentrations of up to 50 microM, inhibited 50% of HIV-1(LAI) replication in these cells at a concentration of 0.07 microM. Moreover, [GPGRAF]8-SPC inhibited the infection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by several HIV-1 and HIV-2 isolates, including laboratory strains [HIV-1(LAI), HIV-1(NDK), and HIV-2(ROD)], and fresh primary isolates, including two zidovudine-resistant HIV-1 isolates and two HIV-2 isolates obtained from infected individuals. The multibranched peptide also inhibited infection of human primary macrophages by the highly cytopathic macrophage-tropic isolate HIV-1(89.6). The antiviral activity of [GPGRAF]8-SPC was not related to a virucidal effect, since preincubation of HIV-1 with the peptide did not affect its infectious titer. This result is in agreement with the concept that the multibranched peptide mimics a part of the V3 loop and thus interacts with the host cell. The therapeutic properties of synthetic multibranched peptides based on the V3 loop consensus motif should be evaluated in HIV-infected patients.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Multi-branched peptides based on the HIV-1 V3 loop consensus motif inhibit HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection in CD4+ and CD4- cells.

The V3 loop is an hypervariable region of the HIV-1 surface envelope glycoprotein gp120 that is able to generate neutralizing antibodies. These antibodies are generally type-specific. They inhibit the interaction between the V3 loop and the membrane molecules involved in virus-cell and cell-cell fusion. Synthetic peptides based on the V3 loop sequence have been tentatively used to block the fusion process, but the results were unsuccessful. In this report, we confirm that monomeric V3 peptides are devoid of any anti-HIV activity. However, we found that, when assembled in a synthetic polymeric construction (SPC), these peptides have been able to inhibit the infection of human CD4+ lymphocytes and macrophages as well as CD4- epithelial intestinal cells by distantly related isolates of HIV-1 and HIV-2. V3 SPCs, based on the consensus HIV-1 sequence, may therefore represent a new class of therapeutically useful anti-HIV agents able to neutralize a wide range of viral isolates in both CD4+ and CD4- susceptible cells.

CD4 Antigens↗

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus infection in human colon epithelial cells by recombinant interferon-gamma.

Pretreatment of human colon epithelial cells HT29 by recombinant gamma interferon (IFN)-gamma was found to protect the cells from infection with various isolates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and HIV-2, as assessed by co-cultivation with human T lymphoblastoid cells and gene amplification by polymerase chain reaction technique. Additionally, IFN-gamma induced a dose-dependent inhibition of HIV-1 and HIV-2 production in chronically infected HT29 cells. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated that IFN-treated cells were still able to synthesize viral messenger ribonucleic acid. However, the expression of the p24 product of the gag gene was markedly decreased after IFN treatment as demonstrated by radio-immunoprecipitation assay. Taken together, these data suggested that the cytokine acted at the post-translational level by inhibiting the processing of structural viral proteins. It is concluded from this study that IFN-gamma has a potent anti-HIV effect on epithelial gastrointestinal cells.

Cells, Cultured↗

Structural variability of env and gag gene products from a highly cytopathic strain of HIV-1.

The glycoprotein precursor of the highly cytopathic Zairian virus HIV1-NDK synthesized in CEM leukemic cells displayed a molecular mass of 140 kDa (gp140) as compared to the 160 kDa of gp160 of HIV1-LAV prototype strain. This precursor was cleaved to produce a smaller than prototype extra-cellular envelope glycoprotein (gp100) and a transmembrane component with a usual size (gp41). Immunoprecipitates from tunicamycin-treated infected cells demonstrated the presence of a non-glycosylated precursor of 100 kDa for HIV1-LAV prototype strain and 90 kDa for HIV1-NDK. Digestion of labeled precipitates with a mixture of endoglycosidase F and glycopeptidase F reduced the size of HIV1-LAV gp160 and gp120 to 100 and 60 kDa, respectively, while HIV1-NDK gp140 and gp100, after treatment with the same enzymes, displayed an apparent molecular mass of 90 kDa and 55 kDa, respectively. From these data we conclude that HIV1-LAV gp120 and HIV1-NDK gp100 differ both in their proteic moiety (60 kDa and 55 kDa, respectively) and in their carbohydrate moiety (60 kDa and 45 kDa, respectively). These differences could not be deduced from the available gene sequences of the two viruses. A chimeric virus containing the first 124 amino acid residues of the envelope glycoprotein coded by HIV1-LAV sequence and the rest by HIV1-NDK displayed normal size envelope glycoproteins, demonstrating the involvement of this N-terminal sequence in the alteration of the molecular mass characteristic of HIV1-NDK gp140 and gp100. Finally, characterization of the gag gene products from both strains demonstrated that HIV1-NDK p18 and p15 have a slower electrophoretic mobility as compared to its HIV1-LAV counterparts. Therefore, structural properties of HIV1-NDK env and gag products, reflected by their unusual electrophoretic mobilities, may be responsible for HIV1-NDK biological properties.

Amidohydrolases↗

Monoclonal antibodies to toxin II from the scorpion Androctonus australis Hector: further characterization of epitope specificities and neutralizing capacities.

The epitope specificities of two previously prepared monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the toxin II from Androctonus australis Hector were characterized. Neither mAb 4C1 nor mAb 3C5 was able to recognize any of the 58 overlapping synthetic heptapeptides which cover the whole sequence of toxin II. Thus, both mAbs probably recognize conformation-dependent epitopes at the surface of the toxin. Experiments were designed to check whether or not the two mAbs, or their Fab fragments, were able to bind simultaneously to the toxin. The results indicated that the epitopes recognized by the two antibodies are probably close together at the surface of the toxin, thus preventing the simultaneous binding of both mAbs to a single toxin molecule. Given the proximity of the two epitopes and the fact that mAb 4C1 is known to be a neutralizing antibody, the capacity of mAb 3C5 to inhibit the toxic effects of the toxin was re-evaluated in C57BL/6 mice. A clear, but weak, neutralizing effect was found, consistent with the low affinity binding of the mAb in the proximity of a neutralizing site of the toxin.

Animals↗

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulates both apical and basal production of HIV in polarized human intestinal HT29 cells.

The human colon epithelial cell line HT29 can be infected by selected strains of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [9]. In the present study, it is shown that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a potent stimulator of HIV replication in chronically infected differentiated HT29 cells, but not in undifferentiated cells. The polarity of HIV production upon TNF-alpha stimulation has been studied in polarized monolayers of differentiated HT29 cells grown on porous-bottomed dishes. It is shown that the cytokine induced a dramatic increase of HIV production through the two opposite sides of the monolayer, i.e. the apical and basolateral plasma membrane domains. The effect of TNF-alpha was mainly localized at the level of viral mRNA synthesis as demonstrated by in situ hybridization. These data support the concept that cytokines released as a result of intestinal inflammatory responses could promote HIV replication and contribute to the gastrointestinal disease in HIV-infected patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Human colon epithelial cells productively infected with human immunodeficiency virus show impaired differentiation and altered secretion.

Selected strains of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) types 1 and 2 are able to infect human colon epithelial cells in vitro, suggesting a mechanism for the anal route of HIV transmission. In some cases, HIV is not produced by infected colon cells but can be rescued after coculture with T-lymphoid cells. One of the HIV strains (HIV1-NDK) replicated well in colonic cells. A transmission electron microscope study demonstrated two major structural perturbations in producer colon cells: an unusual number of secretion bodies and the appearance of intracellular lumina with disorganized microvilli, indicating a defect in brush border assembly and differentiation. Either abnormality could account for HIV-induced enteropathy consisting of chronic diarrhea and malabsorption in the absence of enteric pathogens. Moreover, HT29 cells infected with HIV provide a unique model for selection of enterotropic HIV strains.

Cell Differentiation↗

Galactosyl ceramide (or a closely related molecule) is the receptor for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 on human colon epithelial HT29 cells.

The gastrointestinal tract is considered to be a major route of infection for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Infection of human colon epithelial cells by HIV is not blocked by anti-CD4 antibodies known to block infection of lymphoid cells (J. Fantini, N. Yahi, and J. C. Chermann, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:9297-9301, 1991), suggesting the presence of an alternate receptor for HIV on these cells. In this report, we show that (i) a monoclonal antibody specifically directed against galactosyl ceramide inhibited the infection of HT29 cells by two markedly different strains of HIV-1, as assessed by polymerase chain reaction amplification and reverse transcriptase assay; (ii) this antibody strongly labeled the surface of HT29 cells by immunofluorescence and electron microscopic immunolocalization; (iii) the labeling was preferentially but not totally restricted to the basolateral membrane domain of differentiated colonic cells, in agreement with the ability of HIV to infect both the apical and basolateral surfaces of these epithelial cells; and (iv) in thin-layer chromatography-immunostaining experiments with neutral glycolipids prepared from HT29 cells, the antibody specifically reacted with a ceramide monoglycoside fraction corresponding to galactosyl ceramide. We did not detect this glycolipid in lymphoid cells, and anti-galactosyl ceramide antibodies consistently failed to inhibit HIV infection of these cells. These data suggest that galactosyl ceramide (or a derivative) is an essential component of the receptor for HIV on the surface of HT29 cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Replication and apical budding of HIV-1 in mucous-secreting colonic epithelial cells.

The human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 can be infected with various isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2). In some cases, the virus was able to perform its complete cycle of replication as demonstrated by the persistent production of mature viral particles in the cell-free culture supernatant. We have cultured HT29 cells chronically infected with the replicative strain HIV1-NDK in a chemically defined serum-free medium. Under these conditions, the cells were able to maintain a high level of viral replication, as demonstrated by reverse transcriptase activities and in situ hybridization studies. By indirect immunofluorescence labeling and electron microscopy, we observed that serum starvation was associated with the differentiation of HIV-1-infected HT29 cells into mucous-secreting cells resembling epithelial goblet cells of the colonic mucosa. These mucous-secreting cells, which accounted for 50% of the overall population, produced mature particles of HIV through their apical membrane in the vicinity of mucous granules. These data suggest that HIV-infected goblet cells in the colonic mucosa may produce the virus in the colorectal lumen; this could explain the route of transmission of HIV in the case of anal intercourse.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Human immunodeficiency virus can infect the apical and basolateral surfaces of human colonic epithelial cells.

The gastrointestinal tract is considered to be a major route of infection for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To understand the interaction of HIV with epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa, we have studied the infection of a human colon cancer cell clone HT-29-D4. The enterocyte-like differentiation of this clone can be modulated in vitro according to the concentration of glucose. We show that: (i) undifferentiated HT-29-D4 cells can be infected by HIV types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) strains with no subsequent effect on cell growth; (ii) undifferentiated HT-29-D4 cells express a CD4-related antigen bearing epitopes of the immunoglobulin-like variable (V) region domains V1 and V2 of CD4 but lacking the epitope known to be involved in HIV envelope recognition; (iii) differentiated HT-29-D4 cells can be infected by HIV after an interaction with either the apical brush border membrane (luminal side) or the basolateral side (serosal side); (iv) the CD4-like molecule is restricted to the basolateral domain of differentiated cells; and (v) the infection is not inhibited by anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) OKT4, OKT4A, Leu-3a, Bl4, 13-B-8-2, S-T4 or S-T40. We conclude that epithelial intestinal cells may represent a major site of entry for HIV. Infection of these epithelial cells may occur via the basolateral membrane by HIV-bearing lymphocytes or macrophages of the lamina propria and via the apical membrane by HIV present in the bowel lumen. This infection may remain silent for up to 9 months, and the virus can be rescued by cocultivation with lymphoid cells. These data may give an explanation for the long latent seronegative state that may occur in a HIV-infected individual.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Selected human immunodeficiency virus replicates preferentially through the basolateral surface of differentiated human colon epithelial cells.

We have used HIV1-NDK-infected HT29 cells grown on permeable substratum to study the polarity of virus maturation in human intestinal cells. When cultured in glucose-containing medium, these cells are mostly undifferentiated. The removal of glucose from the medium allowed the emergence of a selected differentiated subpopulation which continued to produce viral particles in the culture supernatant. The polarity of viral production was evaluated by harvesting virus from the two sides of the monolayer. Seventy-five percent of released HIV was found on the basolateral side of the monolayer. Mature viral particles were observed by electron microscopy near the apical (luminal) and the basolateral (serosal) membrane. These data suggest that epithelial cells of the colon productively infected by a selected strain of HIV are able to produce the virus through both sides of the epithelium but mainly through the serosal side.

Cell Differentiation↗

Mutation L210W of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in patients receiving combination therapy. Incidence, association with other mutations, and effects on the structure of mutated reverse transcriptase.

Mutation L210W of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) is one of the six main mutations that confer in vivo resistance to zidovudine. Surprisingly, this mutation has received scant appraisal and its contribution to the genotypic resistance to nucleoside analogs is not well understood. The aim of this study was: (1) to study the frequency of mutation L210W in a large collection of HIV-1 sequences (2,049 samples, including 395 DNA and 1,654 RNA sequences) from patients receiving combination therapy, and (2) to analyze its association with the other mutations that confer resistance to zidovudine. A mutation at codon 210 (mainly L210W) was found in 647 (32%) of the 2,049 sequences analyzed. Only 43 (<7%) of these 647 genomes were also mutated at codon 70 (p < 10(-5)). In contrast, 98% of these 647 sequences were also mutated at codon 215 (essentially T215Y/F), and 94% at codon 41 (mainly M41L). These data showing a close association between L210W, T215Y/F, and M41L, and a mutual exclusion between K70R and L210W, were confirmed by analyzing the sequences stored in the HIV-1 sequences available through the Stanford HIV RT and Protease Database. Follow-up studies demonstrated that L210W appeared always after T215Y/F. This observation is consistent with crystallographic studies which suggested that the aromatic side chain of Trp 210 could stabilize the interaction of Phe/Tyr215 with the dNTP-binding pocket. This molecular cross-talk between amino acid chains occurs nearby the conserved Asp113 residue. Since the lateral chain of Arg70 may also interact with Asp113, this is likely to create a sterical hindrance around this residue. Thus, the R-->K reversion of codon 70 may represent a compensatory mechanism allowing a functional rearrangement of the dNTP-binding pocket in the mutated RT.

Amino Acid Sequence↗