Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 proteins and cytoskeleton: partners in viral life and host cell death

Abstract

Cytoskeletal components play a major role in the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. A wide variety of molecules belonging to the microfilament system, including actin filaments and actin binding proteins, as well as microtubules have a key role in regulating both cell life and death. Cell shape maintenance, cell polarity and cell movements as well as cytoplasmic trafficking of molecules determining cell fate, including apoptosis, are in fact instructed by the cytoskeleton components. HIV infection and viral particle production seem to be controlled by cytoskeleton as well. Furthermore, HIV-associated apoptosis failure can also be regulated by the actin network function. In fact, HIV protein gp120 is able to induce cytoskeleton-driven polarization, thus sensitizing T cells to CD95/Fas-mediated apoptosis. The microfilament system seems thus to be a sort of cytoplasmic supervisor of the viral particle, the host cell and the bystander cell's very fate. Cell Death and Differentiation (2005) 12, 932-941.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope gp120 Induces a Stop Signal and Virological Synapse Formation in Noninfected CD4+T Cells

“…Additionally, CD4 engagement by an anti-CD4 MAb was shown to be sufficient for Lck activation (28), although the subsequent signaling events and how they differ from those triggered by gp120 are unclear at this point. HIV-1 replication within CD4 ϩ T cells is tightly linked to their activation state but requires a balance between a state of activation that relieves the blocks of early postreplication events and hyperactivation that leads to host cell death (43,62). HIV-1 potentially exploits VS not only for facilitating its dissemination within the host but also for inducing T-cell activation to a level that is sufficient to support its replication without incurring premature cell death.…”

Regulation of Microtubule Assembly and Stability by the Transactivator of Transcription Protein of Jembrana Disease Virus

“…Many viruses are known to interact with host microtubules or microtubule-associated proteins, and the interactions have proven to be critical at multiple stages throughout viral life cycle. Incoming viruses use motor proteins to travel along microtubules from the plasma membrane to the nuclear or perinuclear replication site, whereas progeny viruses depend on microtubules and motors to move from the assembly site to the cell periphery (2,22). In addition, viruses can regulate microtubule dynamics through various mechanisms to exert their cellular effects (22).…”

Differentially Stimulated CD4+T Cells Display Altered Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Kinetics: Implications for the Efficacy of Antiviral Agents

“…Interestingly, viral protein expression kinetics were similar in both cell populations. Therefore, the kinetics of the early stages of the viral life cycle may be modulated by host mechanisms, such as signal transduction pathways (3,7,19,25,32) or host cytoskeletal organization activated during T-cell activation (2,13). T-cell activation may also change the patterns of HIV integration due to distinct cellular gene expression patterns (20,31).…”