measurement-bk-polyomavirus-non-coding-control-region-driven

Measurement of BK-polyomavirus Non-Coding Control Region Driven Transcriptional Activity Via Flow Cytometry

Polyomaviruses, like the BK-polyomavirus (BKPyV), can cause severe pathologies in immunocompromised patients. However, since highly effective antivirals ...

University of Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital Essen

After the start of antiretroviral therapy (ART), plasma HIV-RNA levels should fall below the limit of detection (LOD) within 24 weeks. Hence, the prolonged decline of HIV-RNA after ART initiation is defined as persistent viremia (PV). In this retrospective study, we analyzed factors associated with PV. Next-generation sequencing of viral RNA/DNA was performed to study viral evolution and the emergence of drug-resistance mutations in HIV-infected patients with PV (n = 20). In addition, HIV-DNA species, immunological parameters, and clinical data of the patients were analyzed. We found that the possible causes for PV were divers, and both virologic and host parameters of this particular cohort were heterogeneous. We identified viruses with therapy-associated DRMs in six patients (30%); two of these were detected as minority variants. Five patients had sub-optimal drug levels (25%) and the baseline plasma viral loads were relatively high. Strikingly, we observed that >40% of the PV patients finally reaching HIV levels below the LOD later on showed up with episodes of low-level viremia (LLV). However, the amount of PBMC derived HIV-DNA species was not correlated with the likelihood of LLV after PV. According to our data, we conclude that drug-resistant viruses, sub-optimal drug level, and high baseline viral loads might be probable reasons for the prolonged RNA decline only in a sub-set of patients. In the absence of emerging DRMs and/or compliance issues, the clinical implications of PV remain unclear; however, PV appears to be a risk factor for episodes of LLV.

HIV-1 persistent viremia is frequently followed by episodes of low-level viremia.

The presence of anti-HBc antibodies indicates direct encounter of the immune system with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Clinical course and core variability in HBV infected patients without detectable anti-HBc antibodies.

Although bone marrow, liver, thymus (BLT)-humanized mice provide a robust model for HIV-1 infection and enable evaluation of cure strategies dependent on endogenous immune responses, most mice develop graft versus host disease (GVHD), limiting their utility for extended HIV cure studies. This study aimed to: evaluate the GVHD-resistant C57 black 6 (C57BL/6) recombination activating gene 2 (Rag2)γcCD47 triple knockout (TKO)-BLT mouse as a model to establish HIV-1 latency. Determine whether TKO-BLT mice could be maintained on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for extended periods of time. Assess the rapidity of viral rebound following therapy interruption.

An advanced BLT-humanized mouse model for extended HIV-1 cure studies.

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV)-associated nephropathy (PyVAN) is a significant cause of premature renal transplant failure. High-level BKPyV viremia is predictive for PyVAN; however, low-level BKPyV viremia does not necessarily exclude the presence of PyVAN. As data are limited regarding whether or not low-level BKPyV viremia has an effect on intermediate-term graft outcome, this study analyzes the impact of low-level BKPyV viremia on intermediate-term graft function and outcome compared with high-level viremia and non-viremic patients.

Impact of low-level BK polyomavirus viremia on intermediate-term renal allograft function.

Interferon-α (IFN-α) plays an important role in HIV pathogenesis. IFN-α consists of 13 individual IFN-α subtypes, which exhibit individual antiviral and immunomodulatory activities in HIV infection. Here, we determined the expression profiles of all IFN-α subtypes in treated and treatment-naive HIV patients and their impact on the induction of distinct HIV restriction factors. We collected blood samples of chronic HIV patients, which underwent antiretroviral therapy or were treatment-naive, and determined the individual expression levels of different IFN-α subtypes and HIV restriction factors. HIV infection transiently enhanced the expression of IFNA mRNA. The IFN-α response was dominated by the most abundantly expressed subtypes IFNA4, A5, A7, and A14 in all individuals. HIV infection affected the expression pattern of the IFN-α response, in particular for IFNA2 and IFNA16, which were elevated by chronic HIV infection. Elevated expression of HIV restriction factors was observed in chronically HIV-infected patients, which partly decreased during successful antiretroviral treatment. In vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed that IFN-α6, -α14, and -α21 were most effective in inducing the expression of HIV restriction factors. These results indicate that HIV infection induces a specific expression pattern of IFN-α subtypes, which in turn induce the expression of various HIV restriction factors.

Expression Pattern of Individual IFNA Subtypes in Chronic HIV Infection.

Alternative splicing plays a key role in the HIV-1 life cycle and is essential to maintain an equilibrium of mRNAs that encode viral proteins and polyprotein-isoforms. In particular, since all early HIV-1 proteins are expressed from spliced intronless and late enzymatic and structural proteins from intron containing, i.e. splicing repressed viral mRNAs, cellular splicing factors and splicing regulatory proteins are crucial for the replication capacity. In this review, we will describe the complex network of cis-acting splicing regulatory elements (SREs), which are mainly localized in the neighbourhoods of all HIV-1 splice sites and warrant the proper ratio of individual transcript isoforms. Since SREs represent binding sites for trans-acting cellular splicing factors interacting with the cellular spliceosomal apparatus we will review the current knowledge of interactions between viral RNA and cellular proteins as well as their impact on viral replication. Finally, we will discuss potential therapeutic approaches targeting HIV-1 alternative splicing.

Behind the scenes of HIV-1 replication: Alternative splicing as the dependency factor on the quiet.

Renal impairment is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT). While BK polyomavirus (BKV) has been linked to renal failure in kidney transplant recipients, Torque teno virus (TTV) is a surrogate marker for immunosuppression that does not have a clear association with any human disease. The impact of BKV and TTV on renal impairment after LT is unknown.

Role of BK polyomavirus (BKV) and Torque teno virus (TTV) in liver transplant recipients with renal impairment.

Reactivation of the BK-Polyomavirus (BKPyV) can cause a polyomavirus associated nephropathy in approx. 10% of kidney transplant recipients. In these cases, current therapy is based on the reduction of immunosuppression. Since BKPyV-transcription is driven by the Non-Coding-Control-Region (NCCR) we were interested whether NCCR-activity is affected by immunosuppressive agents.

Impact of immune suppressive agents on the BK-Polyomavirus non coding control region.

After reactivation the BK-polyomavirus (BKPyV) associated nephropathy (PyVAN) is observed in 1-10% of renal transplant recipients, of which up to 80% undergo graft failure. BKPyV reactivation after renal transplantation was associated with donor-derived serotypes against which the recipient has no immunological protection. However, PyVAN risk assessment seroactivity testing is a time-consuming and cost intensive process.

The detection of BKPyV genotypes II and IV after renal transplantation as a simple tool for risk assessment for PyVAN and transplant outcome already at early stages of BKPyV reactivation.

Article	Year
HIV-1 persistent viremia is frequently followed by episodes of low-level viremia. Medical microbiology and immunology\| PubMed ID: 28220254	2017
Clinical course and core variability in HBV infected patients without detectable anti-HBc antibodies. Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology\| PubMed ID: 28622640	2017
An advanced BLT-humanized mouse model for extended HIV-1 cure studies. AIDS (London, England)\| PubMed ID: 29112072	2018
Impact of low-level BK polyomavirus viremia on intermediate-term renal allograft function. Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society\| PubMed ID: 29156086	2018
Expression Pattern of Individual IFNA Subtypes in Chronic HIV Infection. Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research\| PubMed ID: 29252127	2017
Behind the scenes of HIV-1 replication: Alternative splicing as the dependency factor on the quiet. Virology\| PubMed ID: 29407375	2018
Role of BK polyomavirus (BKV) and Torque teno virus (TTV) in liver transplant recipients with renal impairment. Journal of medical microbiology\| PubMed ID: 30136921	2018
Impact of immune suppressive agents on the BK-Polyomavirus non coding control region. Antiviral research\| PubMed ID: 30268912	2018
The detection of BKPyV genotypes II and IV after renal transplantation as a simple tool for risk assessment for PyVAN and transplant outcome already at early stages of BKPyV reactivation. Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology\| PubMed ID: 30771597	2019

Marek Widera

Biography

JoVE Journal Publications

Other Publications