AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, July 26, 2004
Staff Medical Writers

"CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) stimulate immune cells via the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). In this study, we have investigated the effects of CpG ODNs on latent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in human T cells," wrote researchers in Germany.

"Treatment of the latently infected T cell line ACH-2 with CpG ODNs 2006 or 2040 stimulated HIV replication, whereas no effects were evident when ODNs without the CpG motif were used.

"CpG-induced virus reactivation was blocked by chloroquine," C. Scheller and coworkers reported, "indicating the involvement of TLR9. In contrast to the responsiveness of ACH-2 cells, CpG ODNs failed to activate HIV provirus in the latently infected Jurkat clone J1.1."

The authors continued, "We also studied the effects of CpG ODNs on productive HIV infection and found enhancement of viral replication in A3.01 T cells, whereas again no stimulating effects were observed in Jurkat T cells. CpG ODN treatment activated NF-kappaB in ACH-2 cells, which was similarly triggered in uninfected A3.01 T cells following exposure to CpG ODNs, indicating that TLR9-induced signal transduction was not dependent on proviral infection."

"Our study demonstrates that CpG ODNs directly trigger the activation of NF-kappaB and reactivation of latent HIV in human T cells. Our results point to a novel role for CpG ODNs as stimulators of HIV replication and open new avenues to eradicate the latent viral reservoirs in HIV-infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy," concluded scientists.

Scheller and colleagues published their study in Journal of Biological Chemistry (CpG oligodeoxynucleotides activate HIV replication in latently infected human T cells. J Biol Chem. 2004 May 21;279(21):21897-902.

For additional information, contact C. Scheller, University Wurzburg, Institute Virology & Immunobiology, Versbacher Str 7, D-97078 Wurzburg, Germany.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Biological Chemistry is: American Society Biochemistry Molecular Biology Inc., 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3996 USA.

The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of AIDS/HIV, Biotechnology, Immunology and Antiretroviral Therapy.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

Reference

Scheller C, Ullrich A, McPherson K, et al. "CpG oligodeoxynucleotides activate HIV replication in latently infected human T cells.", J Biol Chem. 2004 May 21;279(21):21897-902.

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