Exosomes from uninfected cells activate transcription of latent HIV-1

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry 2017-07, Vol.292 (28), p.11682-11701
• Main Authors: Barclay, Robert A., Schwab, Angela, DeMarino, Catherine, Akpamagbo, Yao, Lepene, Benjamin, Kassaye, Seble, Iordanskiy, Sergey, Kashanchi, Fatah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Retroviral Agents - pharmacology; Cattle; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT); Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport - antagonists & inhibitors; Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport - genetics; Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport - metabolism; Exocytosis - drug effects; exosome (vesicle); Exosomes - drug effects; Exosomes - immunology; Exosomes - physiology; HIV-1 - drug effects; HIV-1 - immunology; HIV-1 - physiology; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); Humans; Immunity, Innate - drug effects; latency; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - cytology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - drug effects; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - virology; Microbiology; Models, Immunological; monocyte; Monocytes - cytology; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - immunology; Monocytes - virology; Promoter Regions, Genetic - drug effects; RNA Interference; RNA Polymerase II - chemistry; RNA Polymerase II - metabolism; small interfering RNA (siRNA); T-cell; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - virology; transcription; Transcription, Genetic - drug effects; Ultracentrifugation; Virus Activation - drug effects; Virus Latency - drug effects
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M117.793521

HIV-1 infection causes AIDS, infecting millions worldwide. The virus can persist in a state of chronic infection due to its ability to become latent. We have previously shown a link between HIV-1 infection and exosome production. Specifically, we have reported that exosomes transport viral proteins and RNA from infected cells to neighboring uninfected cells. These viral products could then elicit an innate immune response, leading to activation of the Toll-like receptor and NF-κB pathways. In this study, we asked whether exosomes from uninfected cells could activate latent HIV-1 in infected cells. We observed that irrespective of combination antiretroviral therapy, both short- and long-length viral transcripts were increased in wild-type HIV-1–infected cells exposed to purified exosomes from uninfected cells. A search for a possible mechanism for this finding revealed that the exosomes increase RNA polymerase II loading onto the HIV-1 promoter in the infected cells. These viral transcripts, which include trans-activation response (TAR) RNA and a novel RNA that we termed TAR-gag, can then be packaged into exosomes and potentially be exported to neighboring uninfected cells, leading to increased cellular activation. To better decipher the exosome release pathways involved, we used siRNA to suppress expression of ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) proteins and found that ESCRT II and IV significantly control exosome release. Collectively, these results imply that exosomes from uninfected cells activate latent HIV-1 in infected cells and that true transcriptional latency may not be possible in vivo, especially in the presence of combination antiretroviral therapy.