Human Beta-Defensin 2 and 3 Inhibit HIV-1 Replication in Macrophages.

Human beta-defensins (hBDs) are broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides, secreted by epithelial cells of the skin and mucosae, and astrocytes, which we and others have shown to inhibit HIV-1 in primary CD4+ T cells. Although loss of CD4+ T cells contributes to mucosal immune dysfunction, macrophages are a major source of persistence and spread of HIV and also contribute to the development of various HIV-associated complications. We hypothesized that, besides T cells, hBDs could protect macrophages from HIV. Our data in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) in vitro show that hBD2 and hBD3 inhibit HIV replication in a dose-dependent manner. We determined that hBD2 neither alters surface expression of HIV receptors nor induces expression of anti-HIV cytokines or beta-chemokines in MDM. Studies using a G-protein signaling antagonist in a single-cycle reporter virus system showed that hBD2 suppresses HIV at an early post-entry stage via G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-mediated signaling. We find that MDM express the shared chemokine-hBD receptors CCR2 and CCR6, albeit at variable levels among donors. However, cell surface expression analyses show that neither of these receptors is necessary for hBD2-mediated HIV inhibition, suggesting that hBD2 can signal via additional receptor(s). Our data also illustrate that hBD2 treatment was associated with increased expression of APOBEC3A and 3G antiretroviral restriction factors in MDM. These findings suggest that hBD2 inhibits HIV in MDM via more than one CCR thus adding to the potential of using ß-defensins in preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Interleukin-27, an anti-HIV-1 cytokine, inhibits replication of hepatitis C virus.

Interleukin (IL)-27 is a member of IL-12 family cytokine. We have previously reported that IL-27 inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) replication in CD4(+) T cells and monocyte-derived macrophages, even though IL-12 enhances HIV-1 replication in primary CD4(+) T cells. Further study demonstrates that IL-27 induces antiviral genes including RNA-dependent protein kinase, oligoadenylate synthetase, and myxovirus protein in the same manner as interferon (IFN)-alpha. Neutralization assay using anti-IFN antibodies, real-time RT-PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that IL-27 induces the antiviral genes without the induction of IFNs. IFN-alpha has been administered to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients as well as HCV/HIV-1 co-infected patients. Despite the improved immunotherapy, some patients are still failed to respond to the treatment. Since IL-27 induces IFN-alpha-like responses including the induction of antiviral genes, it was speculated that IL-27 may impact the replication of HCV. In this study, we evaluated the role of IL-27 on HCV replication using Huh7.5, an HCV permissive cell line. IL-27 induces STAT-1 and -3 in the cell line, and dose-dependently inhibited HCV. These data suggest that IL-27 may play a role in the development of a novel immunotherapeutic strategy for HCV and HCV/HIV co-infection.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Afr1 protein is a protein phosphatase 1/Glc7-targeting subunit that regulates the septin cytoskeleton during mating.

Glc7, the type1 serine/threonine phosphatase in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is targeted by auxiliary subunits to numerous locations in the cell, where it regulates a range of physiological pathways. We show here that the accumulation of Glc7 at mating projections requires Afr1, a protein required for the formation of normal projections. AFR1-null mutants fail to target Glc7 to projections, and an Afr1 variant specifically defective in binding to Glc7 [Afr1(V546A F548A)] forms aberrant projections. The septin filaments in mating projections of AFR1 mutants initiate normally but then rearrange asymmetrically as the projection develops, suggesting that the Afr1-Glc7 holoenzyme may regulate the maintenance of septin complexes during mating. These results demonstrate a previously unknown role for Afr1 in targeting Glc7 to mating projections and in regulating the septin architecture during mating.

Protein phosphatase type 1 directs chitin synthesis at the bud neck in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Yeast chitin synthase III (CSIII) is targeted to the bud neck, where it is thought to be tethered by the septin-associated protein Bni4. Bni4 also associates with the yeast protein phosphatase (PP1) catalytic subunit, Glc7. To identify regions of Bni4 necessary for its targeting functions, we created a collection of 23 deletion mutants throughout the length of Bni4. Among the deletion variants that retain the ability to associate with the bud neck, only those deficient in Glc7 binding fail to target CSIII to the neck. A chimeric protein composed of the septin Cdc10 and the C-terminal Glc7-binding domain of Bni4 complements the defects of a bni4Delta mutant, indicating that the C-terminus of Bni4 is necessary and sufficient to target Glc7 and CSIII to the bud neck. A Cdc10-Glc7 chimera fails to target CSIII to the bud neck but is functional in the presence of the C-terminal Glc7-binding domain of Bni4. The conserved C-terminal PP1-binding domain of mammalian Phactr-1 can functionally substitute for the C-terminus of Bni4. These results suggest that the essential role of Bni4 is to target Glc7 to the neck and activate it toward substrates necessary for CSIII recruitment and synthesis of chitin at the bud neck.

Ypi1, a positive regulator of nuclear protein phosphatase type 1 activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) has an essential role in mitosis, acting in opposition to the Ipl1/Aurora B protein kinase to ensure proper kinetochore-microtubule interactions. However, the regulatory subunit(s) that completes the PP1 holoenzyme that functions in this capacity is not known. We show here that the budding yeast Ypi1 protein is a nuclear protein that functions with PP1 (Glc7) in this mitotic role. Depletion of cellular Ypi1 induces mitotic arrest due to activation of the spindle checkpoint. Ypi1 depletion is accompanied by a reduction of nuclear PP1 and by loss of nuclear Sds22, a Glc7 binding partner that is found in a ternary complex with Ypi1 and Glc7. Expression of a Ypi1 variant that binds weakly to PP1 also activates the spindle checkpoint and suppresses the temperature sensitivity of an ipl1-2 mutant. These results, together with genetic interactions among YPI1, GLC7, and SDS22 mutants, indicate that Ypi1 and Sds22 are positive regulators of the nuclear Glc7 activity that is required for mitosis.