Galectin-1 promotes HIV-1 infectivity in macrophages through stabilization of viral adsorption.

Following primary infection with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), macrophages are thought to play an important role, as they are one of the first target cells the virus encounters and can also sustain a significant production of viruses over extended periods of time. While the interaction between the primary cellular receptor CD4 and the virus-encoded external envelope glycoprotein gp120 initiates the infection process, it has been suggested that various host factors are exploited by HIV-1 to facilitate adsorption onto the cell surface. Macrophages and other cells found at the infection site can secrete a soluble mammalian lectin, galectin-1, which binds to beta-galactoside residues through its carbohydrate recognition domain. Being a dimer, galectin-1 can cross-link ligands expressed on different constituents to mediate adhesion between cells or between cells and pathogens. We report here that galectin-1, but not galectin-3, increased HIV-1 infectivity in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). This phenomenon was likely due to an enhancement of virus adsorption kinetics, which facilitates HIV-1 entry. The fusion inhibitors T-20 and TAK779 remained effective at reducing infection even in the presence of galectin-1, indicating that the galectin-1-mediated effect is occurring at a step prior to fusion. Together, our data suggest that galectin-1 can facilitate HIV-1 infection in MDMs by promoting early events of the virus replicative cycle (i.e. adsorption).

Mapping the emergence and development of translational cancer research.

Cancer research is one of the principal targets of translational research, yet the nature of the relationships between different forms of cancer research remains controversial. The paper examines publications in the cancer field during the 1980-2000 period. A network analysis software program was used to map evolving patterns of inter-citations between cancer publications, their different research levels and the transformation of their relational content. Both inter-citation and content maps provide striking evidence of the consolidation in the 1990s of a translational interface that was practically non existent a few decades before. In 1980, research was polarized according to the allegiance to either a clinical or a laboratory style. This same duality obtains in the year 2000, albeit with the additional presence of a third, biomedical player whose activities are similarly structured by a common orientation, rather than by an exclusive commitment to a specific sub-domain.

Galectin-1 acts as a soluble host factor that promotes HIV-1 infectivity through stabilization of virus attachment to host cells.

The establishment of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) infection is initiated by the stable attachment of the virion to the target cell surface. Although this process relies primarily upon interaction between virus-encoded gp120 and cell surface CD4, a number of distinct interactions influence binding of HIV-1 to host cells. In this study, we report that galectin-1, a dimeric beta-galactoside-binding protein, promotes infection with R5, X4, and R5X4 variants. Galectin-1 acts as a soluble adhesion molecule by facilitating attachment of HIV-1 to the cell surface. This postulate is based on experiments where galectin-1 rendered HIV-1 particles more refractory to various agents that block HIV-1 adsorption and coreceptor binding (i.e., a blocking anti-CD4, soluble CD4, human anti-HIV-1 polyclonal Abs; stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha; RANTES). Experiments performed with the fusion inhibitor T-20 confirmed that galectin-1 is primarily affecting HIV-1 attachment. The relevance of the present findings for the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection is provided by the fact that galectin-1 is abundantly expressed in the thymus and lymph nodes, organs that represent major reservoirs for HIV-1. Moreover, galectin-1 is secreted by activated CD8(+) T lymphocytes, which are found in high numbers in HIV-1-positive patients. Therefore, it is proposed that galectin-1, which is released in an exocrine fashion at HIV-1 replication sites, can cross-link HIV-1 and target cells and promote a firmer adhesion of the virus to the cell surface, thereby augmenting the efficiency of the infection process. Overall, our findings suggest that galectin-1 might affect the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.

T-cell receptor/CD28 engagement when combined with prostaglandin E2 treatment leads to potent activation of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1.

Infection with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is characterized by long latency periods, indicating that viral gene expression is under tight control. There is presently little information available regarding the nature of extracellular stimuli that can transactivate the regulatory elements of HTLV-1 (i.e., long terminal repeat [LTR]). To gain insight into the biological importance of externally induced activation pathways in virus gene expression, primary and established T cells were transfected with HTLV-1-based reporter gene vectors and then were treated with agents that cross-linked the T-cell receptor (TCR) or the costimulatory CD28 molecule with prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). We demonstrated that a potent induction of HTLV-1 LTR-driven reporter gene activity was seen only when the three agents were used in combination. Interestingly, similar observations were made when using C91/PL, a cell line that carries integrated HTLV-1 proviral DNA. This TCR-CD28-PGE(2)-mediated increase in virus transcription was dependent on protein kinase A activation and induction of the cAMP response element binding protein. Experiments with a mutated reporter construct further revealed the importance of the Tax-responsive elements in the HTLV-1 LTR in the observed up regulation of virus gene expression when TCR/CD28 engagement was combined with PGE(2) treatment. The protein tyrosine kinases p56(lck) and the transmembrane tyrosine phosphatase CD45 were all found to be involved in TCR-CD28-PGE(2)-directed increase in HTLV-1 LTR activity. This study presents new information on the possible mechanisms underlying reactivation of this retrovirus.