Induction of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 on Human Brain Endothelial Cells by HIV-1 gp120: Role of CD4 and Chemokine Coreceptors

Monique F. Stins, Donna Pearce, Francescopaolo Di Cello, Anat Erdreich-Epstein, Carlos A. Pardo, Kwang Sik Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Central nervous system dysfunction is commonly observed in children with HIV-1 infection, but the mechanisms whereby HIV-1 causes encephalopathy are not completely understood. We have previously shown that human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) from children are responsive to gp120 derived from X4 HIV-1 by increasing expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. However, the mechanisms involved in gp120-mediated up-regulation of cell adhesion molecule expression is unclear. In the present study, we found that gp120 derived from both X4 and R5 HIV-1 induced increased expression of ICAM-1 on HBMEC, but the degree of this up-regulation differed among the various HBMEC isolates. The up-regulation of ICAM-1 was inhibited by anti-CD4 antibodies as well as by specific antibodies directed against chemokine receptors and small-molecule coreceptor inhibitors. Anti-CD4 antibodies inhibited the increase in ICAM-1 expression mediated by gp120 derived from X4 and R5 HIV-1, whereas antibodies against chemokine receptors displayed a differential inhibition depending on the source of gp120. Both X4 and R5 gp120-induced ICAM-1 expression was sensitive to pertussis toxin and involved the nuclear factor-kB pathway. These findings indicate a direct involvement of CD4 and a differential involvement of chemokine receptors in the activation of pediatric HBMEC by X4 and R5 gp120. The activation of brain endothelium of children by HIV-1 protein gp120 by way of CD4 and chemokine receptors may have implications for the pathogenesis of HIV-1 encephalopathy in the pediatric population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1787-1798
Number of pages12
JournalLaboratory Investigation
Volume83
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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