Down-regulation of HIV-1 infection by inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway

Virol Sin. 2011 Apr;26(2):114-22. doi: 10.1007/s12250-011-3184-y. Epub 2011 Apr 7.

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can interact with and exploit the host cellular machinery to replicate and propagate itself. Numerous studies have shown that the Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway can positively regulate the replication of HIV-1, but exactly how each MAPK pathway affects HIV-1 infection and replication is not understood. In this study, we used the Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway inhibitor, PD98059, the Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway inhibitor, SP600125, and the p38 pathway inhibitor, SB203580, to investigate the roles of these pathways in HIV-1 replication. We found that application of PD98059 results in a strong VSV-G pseudotyped HIV-1(NL4-3) luciferase reporter virus and HIV-1(NL4-3) virus inhibition activity. In addition, SB203580 and SP600125 also elicited marked VSV-G pseudotyped HIV-1(NL4-3) luciferase reporter virus inhibition activity but no HIV-1(NL4-3) virus inhibition activity. We also found that SB203580 and SP600125 can enhance the HIV-1 inhibition activity of PD98059 when cells were treated with all three MAPK pathway inhibitors in combination. Finally, we show that HIV-1 virus inhibition activity of the MAPK pathway inhibitors was the result of the negative regulation of HIV-1 LTR promoter activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Down-Regulation* / drug effects
  • HIV Infections / enzymology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System* / drug effects
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases