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Molecular Research on Human Retrovirus Infection
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Molecular Research on Human Retrovirus Infection

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 6566

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Toshio Hattori

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Public Health, Shizuoka Graduate University of Public Health, Shizuoka 420-0881, Shizuoka, Japan
2. Emeritus Professor, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Miyagi, Japan
Interests: dengue; malaria; leptospirosis; HIV; tuberculosis; inflammation; galectins; osteopontin
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yosuke Maeda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
Interests: HIV; HTLV-1; HERV; tuberculosis
Dr. Kotaro Shirakawa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
Interests: HIV; AIDS; APOBEC deaminase; myeloma; lymphoma

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Progress has been made in preventing and treating diseases caused by human retroviruses. However, more than 40 years after discovering the viruses, there are still no vaccines or complete cures for human retrovirus infection. Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) induces adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) induces acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Both viruses infect CD4 T-cells, HTLV-1 immortalize, and HIV kills CD4 T-cells. In this issue, not only does research report on the molecular mechanisms of ATL and AIDS, but also other retrovirus-associated diseases and related opportunistic infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, are welcome. Papers proposing new treatments are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Toshio Hattori
Dr. Yosuke Maeda
Dr. Kotaro Shirakawa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • retrovirus
  • ATL
  • HIV-1
  • AIDS

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2510 KiB  
Article
Ripasudil as a Potential Therapeutic Agent in Treating Secondary Glaucoma in HTLV-1-Uveitis: An In Vitro Analysis
by Mingming Yang, Koju Kamoi, Yuan Zong, Jing Zhang, Yaru Zou and Kyoko Ohno-Matsui
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3229; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063229 - 12 Mar 2024
Viewed by 820
Abstract
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a virus that affects 5–10 million people globally, causes several diseases, including adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma and HTLV-1-associated uveitis (HU). HU is prevalent in Japan and often leads to secondary glaucoma, which is a serious complication. We [...] Read more.
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a virus that affects 5–10 million people globally, causes several diseases, including adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma and HTLV-1-associated uveitis (HU). HU is prevalent in Japan and often leads to secondary glaucoma, which is a serious complication. We investigated the efficacy of ripasudil, a Rho-associated coiled coil-forming protein kinase inhibitor, in alleviating changes in human trabecular meshwork cells (hTM cells) infected with HTLV-1. HTLV-1-infected hTM cells were modeled in vitro using MT-2 cells, followed by treatment with varying concentrations of ripasudil. We assessed changes in cell morphology, viability, and inflammatory cytokine levels, as well as NF-κB activation. The results showed that ripasudil treatment changed the cell morphology, reduced the distribution of F-actin and fibronectin, and decreased the levels of certain inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-12. However, ripasudil did not significantly affect NF-κB activation or overall cell viability. These findings suggest that ripasudil has the potential to treat secondary glaucoma in patients with HU by modulating cytoskeletal organization and alleviating inflammation in HTLV-1-infected hTM cells. This study lays the foundation for further clinical studies exploring the effectiveness of ripasudil for the treatment of secondary glaucoma associated with HU. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Human Retrovirus Infection)
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13 pages, 1808 KiB  
Article
Interaction of TSG101 with the PTAP Motif in Distinct Locations of Gag Determines the Incorporation of HTLV-1 Env into the Retroviral Virion
by Yosuke Maeda, Kazuaki Monde, Hiromi Terasawa, Yuetsu Tanaka and Tomohiro Sawa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16520; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216520 - 20 Nov 2023
Viewed by 978
Abstract
Human T-cell tropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is known to be mainly transmitted by cell-to-cell contact due to the lower infectivity of the cell-free virion. However, the reasons why cell-free HTLV-1 infection is poor remain unknown. In this study, we found that the [...] Read more.
Human T-cell tropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is known to be mainly transmitted by cell-to-cell contact due to the lower infectivity of the cell-free virion. However, the reasons why cell-free HTLV-1 infection is poor remain unknown. In this study, we found that the retrovirus pseudotyped with HTLV-1 viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) was infectious when human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was used to produce the virus. We found that the incorporation of HTLV-1 Env into virus-like particles (VLPs) was low when HTLV-1 Gag was used to produce VLPs, whereas VLPs produced using HIV-1 Gag efficiently incorporated HTLV-1 Env. The production of VLPs using Gag chimeras between HTLV-1 and HIV-1 Gag and deletion mutants of HIV-1 Gag showed that the p6 domain of HIV-1 Gag was responsible for the efficient incorporation of HTLV-1 Env into the VLPs. Further mutagenic analyses of the p6 domain of HIV-1 Gag revealed that the PTAP motif in the p6 domain of HIV-1 Gag facilitates the incorporation of HTLV-1 Env into VLPs. Since the PTAP motif is known to interact with tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) during the budding process, we evaluated the effect of TSG101 knockdown on the incorporation of HTLV-1 Env into VLPs. We found that TSG101 knockdown suppressed the incorporation of HTLV-1 Env into VLPs and decreased the infectivity of cell-free HIV-1 pseudotyped with HTLV-1 Env. Our results suggest that the interaction of TSG101 with the PTAP motif of the retroviral L domain is involved not only in the budding process but also in the efficient incorporation of HTLV-1 Env into the cell-free virus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Human Retrovirus Infection)
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16 pages, 5356 KiB  
Article
Retrovirus-Derived RTL9 Plays an Important Role in Innate Antifungal Immunity in the Eutherian Brain
by Fumitoshi Ishino, Johbu Itoh, Masahito Irie, Ayumi Matsuzawa, Mie Naruse, Toru Suzuki, Yuichi Hiraoka and Tomoko Kaneko-Ishino
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(19), 14884; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914884 - 04 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1872
Abstract
Retrotransposon Gag-like (RTL) genes play a variety of essential and important roles in the eutherian placenta and brain. It has recently been demonstrated that RTL5 and RTL6 (also known as sushi-ichi retrotransposon homolog 8 (SIRH8) and SIRH3) are microglial genes [...] Read more.
Retrotransposon Gag-like (RTL) genes play a variety of essential and important roles in the eutherian placenta and brain. It has recently been demonstrated that RTL5 and RTL6 (also known as sushi-ichi retrotransposon homolog 8 (SIRH8) and SIRH3) are microglial genes that play important roles in the brain’s innate immunity against viruses and bacteria through their removal of double-stranded RNA and lipopolysaccharide, respectively. In this work, we addressed the function of RTL9 (also known as SIRH10). Using knock-in mice that produce RTL9-mCherry fusion protein, we examined RTL9 expression in the brain and its reaction to fungal zymosan. Here, we demonstrate that RTL9 plays an important role, degrading zymosan in the brain. The RTL9 protein is localized in the microglial lysosomes where incorporated zymosan is digested. Furthermore, in Rtl9 knockout mice expressing RTL9ΔC protein lacking the C-terminus retroviral GAG-like region, the zymosan degrading activity was lost. Thus, RTL9 is essentially engaged in this reaction, presumably via its GAG-like region. Together with our previous study, this result highlights the importance of three retrovirus-derived microglial RTL genes as eutherian-specific constituents of the current brain innate immune system: RTL9, RTL5 and RTL6, responding to fungi, viruses and bacteria, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Human Retrovirus Infection)
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13 pages, 3035 KiB  
Article
HIV and SIV Envelope Glycoproteins Interact with Glycolipids and Lipids
by Rémi Planes and Elmostafa Bahraoui
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(14), 11730; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241411730 - 21 Jul 2023
Viewed by 990
Abstract
The present study demonstrates that, in addition to interacting with galactosylceramide (GalCer), HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV envelope glycoproteins are able to interact with glucosylceramide (GlcCer), lactosylceramide (LacCer), and ceramide. These interactions were characterized by using three complementary approaches based on molecular binding and [...] Read more.
The present study demonstrates that, in addition to interacting with galactosylceramide (GalCer), HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV envelope glycoproteins are able to interact with glucosylceramide (GlcCer), lactosylceramide (LacCer), and ceramide. These interactions were characterized by using three complementary approaches based on molecular binding and physicochemical assays. The binding assays showed that iodinated radiolabeled HIV-1 and HIV-2 glycoproteins (125I-gp) interact physically with GalCer, GlcCer, LacCer, and ceramide previously separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) or directly coated on a flexible 96-well plate. These interactions are specific as demonstrated, on the one hand, by the dose-dependent inhibition in the presence of various dilutions of immune, but not non-immune, sera, and, on the other hand, by the absence of interaction of these glycolipids/lipids with 125I-IgG used as an unrelated control protein. These interactions were further confirmed in a physicochemical assay, based on the capacity of these glycolipids for insertion in a pre-established monomolecular film, as a model of the cell membrane, with each glycolipid/lipid. The addition of HIV envelope glycoproteins, but not ovomucoid protein used as a negative control, resulted in a rapid increase in surface pressure of the glycolipid/lipid films, thus indirectly confirming their interactions with GalCer, GlcCer, LacCer, and ceramide. In summary, we show that HIV and SIV envelope glycoproteins bind to GalCer, GlcCer, LacCer, and ceramide in a dose-dependent, saturable, and specific manner. These interactions may function as receptors of attachment in order to facilitate infection of CD4 low or negative cells or promote interactions with other receptors leading to the activation of signaling pathways or pathogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Human Retrovirus Infection)
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Review

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14 pages, 1006 KiB  
Review
HIV Reservoirs and Treatment Strategies toward Curing HIV Infection
by Kouki Matsuda and Kenji Maeda
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(5), 2621; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25052621 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 888
Abstract
Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has significantly improved the prognosis of individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has transformed from a fatal disease to a treatable chronic infection. Currently, effective and safe anti-HIV drugs are available. Although cART can reduce [...] Read more.
Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has significantly improved the prognosis of individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has transformed from a fatal disease to a treatable chronic infection. Currently, effective and safe anti-HIV drugs are available. Although cART can reduce viral production in the body of the patient to below the detection limit, it cannot eliminate the HIV provirus integrated into the host cell genome; hence, the virus will be produced again after cART discontinuation. Therefore, research into a cure (or remission) for HIV has been widely conducted. In this review, we focus on drug development targeting cells latently infected with HIV and assess the progress including our current studies, particularly in terms of the “Shock and Kill”, and “Block and Lock” strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research on Human Retrovirus Infection)
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Displaying articles 1-5

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

1. Review: Current status of therapeutic development for treating viral reservoirs toward curing HIV infection
    Author: Kouki Matsuda and Kenji Maeda 
Abstract: Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has significantly improved the prognosis of individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has transformed from a fatal disease to a treatable chronic infection. Currently, effective, and safe anti-HIV drugs have been developed. Although cART can reduce viral production in the patient’s body below the detection limit, it cannot eliminate the HIV provirus integrated into the host cell genome; hence, the virus will be produced again after discontinuation of cART. Therefore, research on the cure (or remission) of HIV has been widely conducted. In this review, we focus on the drug development targeting cells latently infected with HIV and overview the progress including our current studies, particularly regarding the “Shock & Kill”, and “Block & Lock” strategies.

2. Review: Redox Dysregulation in Retroviral Diseases related to TRX and TXNIP/TBP2
    Author: Prof. Junji Yodoi

3. Review: HERVS in autism
    Author: Prof. Alessandra Carta

4. Article: a paper about protease inhibitors
    Author: Dr. Natalia A. Taborda

5. Article: Effects of ROCK inhibitor on the Secondary Glaucoma of HTLV-1 uveitis
    Author: Dr. Koju Kamoi

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