Faculty Bibliography

The chemokine receptor CCR5 is the principal coreceptor for R5 (macrophage-tropic) strains of HIV-1. CCR5 uses G-proteins as transducing elements. Here we report the biochemical consequences of the interaction between CCR5 and G-proteins. Macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta (MIP-1beta) binding to CCR5 was potently and specifically inhibited by guanine nucleotides. The molecular mechanism of this inhibitory effect was shown to be a dose-dependent reduction in MIP-1beta receptors. We also show that the MIP-1beta binding site is allosterically regulated by monovalent cations and that binding of this endogenous agonist is highly temperature sensitive and dependent on divalent cations, characteristic of a G-protein-coupled receptor(GPCR). HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein decreased the affinity of CCR5 for MIP-1beta but also altered the kinetics of MIP-1beta binding to CCR5, proving that it interacts with a distinct, but allosterically coupled binding site. The findings described herein contribute to our understanding of how CCR5 interacts with chemokines and HIV-1 envelope

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 is the principal coreceptor for X4 strains of HIV-1. We show that gp120 is unable to induce interactions between CXCR4 and G-protein in T-cells, but antagonized the agonist effect of SDF-1alpha, the natural ligand for CXCR4. Gp120 had ten times lower affinity for CXCR4 than CD4, implying that a substantial role for cellular CD4 may be to facilitate binding of the viral envelope to CXCR4. Binding of gp120 to CXCR4 was neither regulated by guanine nucleotides, nor affected by divalent cations, was temperature independent and bound to a homogenous population of CXCR4, which is characteristic for an antagonist to a G-protein coupled receptor. In contrast, SDF-1alpha binds to two affinity states of CXCR4 in T-cell membranes, which are modulated by guanine nucleotides. Binding of SDF-1alpha to CXCR4 was highly temperature dependent. Thus, the interaction of CXCR4 with HIV-1 viral envelope and chemokine exhibits fundamental differences.

An elderly man experienced recurrent transient episodes of right arm weakness and expressive aphasia. He was initially treated with aspirin and then with coumadin. Thirteen days after initial presentation, he became febrile and had signs of meningitis. The illness progressed relentlessly to death 9 weeks after admission to the hospital. Necropsy showed prominent meningitis with vasculitis extending into the left frontal lobe. Polymerase chain reaction identified the organism as Listeria monocytogenes

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 was solubilized from the human T-cell line CEM by using the detergent n-dodecyl-beta-maltoside (DDM) and cholesteryl hemisuccinate ester (CHS). Binding studies with (125)I-SDF-1alpha revealed a dissociation constant of 5.33 nM and a receptor density (B(max)) of 2.68 pmol/mg in CEM membranes at 4 degrees C. The affinity of solubilized CXCR4 for SDF-1alpha was identical to membrane-bound CXCR4. Binding of gp120 to solubilized CXCR4 was demonstrated by coprecipitation of gp120 with anti-CXCR4 antibodies.

This study examined the role of heme oxygenase (HO) in the acquisition of resistance to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hemin toxicity by renal epithelial cells (BSC-1). BSC-1 cells adapted by long-term exposure to H2O2 exhibited a twofold increase in basal HO activity and expression of HO-1 mRNA as compared with their wild-type counterparts. Exposure of both adapted and wild-type BSC-1 cells to H2O2 induced HO-1 mRNA. When cells were exposed to H202 for 24 hours, cell viability was reduced; however, an inhibitor of HO activity, Zn 2,4-bis-glycol protoporphyrin IX, improved cell viability. In a similar manner, ZnDBG completely overcame the reduction in cell viability brought about by 1 hour of hemin treatment. In addition, cells preexposed to hemin for 24 hours maintained a high level of HO mRNA and acquired resistance to further challenge with H2O2. Hemin treatment per se was associated with a detectable reduction in BSC-1 cell viability; however, the effect of hemin was not additive to the cytotoxicity of hydrogen peroxide, suggesting a common pathway of cell injury. In conclusion, two interrelated stressors, H2O2 and hemin, produced a stimulation of HO-1, and this was associated with a reduction in the viability of BSC-1 cells. Long-term exposure (24 hours) to both stressors resulted in the acquisition of some resistance to a further acute challenge of oxidant stress in BSC-1 cells

Heme and a series of synthetic heme analogs were tested for inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. Heme and the protoporphyrin complexes of cadmium, magnesium, and tin significantly inhibited HIV-1 RT, whereas other metalloporphyrins had a lesser or no effect on the enzyme. The mechanism of inhibition was examined with respect to heme and tin protoporphyrin (SnPP), as both compounds have been utilized clinically as treatment for noninfectious disorders. Heme and SnPP inhibited HIV-1 RT in a noncompetitive manner with respect to deoxythymidine triphosphate. Inhibition depended in part on the protoporphyrin structure, because the mesoderivatives of the heme analogs essentially were without effect. Heme also markedly enhanced the inhibitory effect of azidothymidine (zidovudine, AZT) on HIV-1 RT, and the combination of the two compounds showed synergy in inhibiting HIV-1 RT. HIV-1 RT was used to reverse transcribe the glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene from human kidney. Subsequently, GAPDH cDNA was amplified with Taq polymerase, and electrophoresis showed that HIV-1 RT catalyzed the reverse transcription of human mRNA at a rate comparable to that of Moloney murine leukemia virus. Heme and SnPP prevented cDNA synthesis by HIV-1 RT in this RT-polymerase chain reaction assay. We also examined the effects of these compounds on normal human bone marrow function. Heme stimulated both erythroid and myeloid progenitor colony formation, whereas SnPP was essentially without effect. In contrast, ZnPP had a suppressive effect on hematopoiesis. Finally, we show that heme has a sparing effect against the myelotoxicity of AZT. The results of these studies raise the possibility that combination therapy with AZT and heme, or heme plus an inhibitor of heme catabolism, might have therapeutic potential in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are arachidonic acid metabolites formed endogenously via the cytochrome P450 pathway in rat, rabbit, and human kidney. We characterized the effects of the four regioisomeric EETs on ion transport in the renal epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1. Among the EETs, 14,15-EET was the most potent inhibitor of 86Rb uptake. Its effect was concentration-dependent (IC50 = 75 nM) and stereoselective to the 14S, 15R-EET. Experiments measuring 14,15-EET-induced 86Rb uptake inhibition in the presence of inhibitors of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity (ouabain), Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransporter (furosemide), and Na(+)-H+ exchanger (amiloride) suggested that 14,15-EET inhibits ion transport via an amiloride-sensitive mechanism. These results, together with previous reports demonstrating their endogenous production in the kidney, suggest an important role for EETs, specifically 14,15-EET, in the regulation of ion and water reabsorption in the kidney and implicate their function in renal pathophysiology