Di Luca D, Secchiero P, Bovenzi P, Cassai E; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1991 Jun 16-21; 7: 141 (abstract no. M.A.1198).
Institute of Microbiology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
OBJECTIVE: This research focused upon: 1) the kynetics of HHV-6 transactivation of HIV LTR and 2) the interactions between HHV-6 and tat. METHODS: The kynetics was studied in the human T cell line H938, containing the reporter gene CAT driven by the HIV LTR. The interactions between HHV-6 and tat were studied in clones of Jurkat cells, expressing constitutively the tat protein. RESULTS: 1) Three distinct phases of HHV-6-induced activation of HIV LTR are present at 6-8, 22-24 and 36-38 hours p.i. At 48 hours p.i. the transactivation reaches a plateau. All the phases occur even in the absence of viral DNA replication, and most likely represent early viral functions. 2) HHV-6 and tat interact synergically in LTR activation, but tat expression significantly inhibits HHV-6 replication. CONCLUSIONS: Viral functions expressed early in HHV-6 infection transactivate HIV LTR. The data confirm the hypothesis that reactivation of latent HHV-6 could contribute to AIDS development in HIV seropositives. However, it could be difficult to detect HHV-6 in these cases, since HIV expression inhibits HHV-6 replication.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Animals
- Cats
- DNA Replication
- Gene Products, tat
- Genes, Reporter
- Genes, tat
- HIV Infections
- HIV Long Terminal Repeat
- HIV Seropositivity
- HIV-1
- Herpesvirus 6, Human
- Humans
- Jurkat Cells
- Trans-Activation (Genetics)
- genetics
Other ID:
UI: 102182761
From Meeting Abstracts